1st ODI: India vs New Zealand | Squads | Players to Watch | Fantasy Playing XI | Live Streaming

T20 World Cup champions New Zealand, just three days after winning the title, are set to face India in three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) as the focus shifts to the 50-over World Cup scheduled for next year in India. The first ODI will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on the 24th of October 2024, at 1:30 PM Indian Standard Time (IST).

Squads:

India women’s cricket team

Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Dayalan Hemalatha, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Yastika Bhatia (WK), Uma Chetry (WK), Sayali Satgare, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh Thakur, Tejal Hasabnis, Saima Thakor, Priya Mishra, Radha Yadav, Shreyanka Patil

New Zealand women’s cricket team

Sophie Devine (C), Suzie Bates, Eden Carson, Lauren Down, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Polly Inglis, Fran Jonas, Jess Kerr, Melie Kerr, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu

Players to watch out:

Smriti Mandhana

The 28-year-old opening batter has amassed 3,585 runs from 85 ODIs, at an average of 45.37, and registered the highest score of 136. Smriti didn’t have the best of campaigns at the T20 World Cup, managing starts and a fine fifty. Notably, in her most recent ODI against South Africa in June 2024, she notched up consecutive scores of 117, 136, and 90. It is hoped she finds her footing early in this series, leading the scoring.

Arundhati Reddy

The 27-year-old pacer made her ODI debut against South Africa in June 2024, returning figures of 1/62 (8), and in her subsequent outing, with improved efforts, returned figures of 2/36 (10). Arundhati has been in outstanding form lately, returning figures of 1/28, 3/19, 3/19, and 0/24 in her most recent campaign, the 2024 T20 World Cup. She can be relied upon to carry the momentum into this series, producing breakthroughs.

Suzie Bates

The 37-year-old all-rounder, in ODIs, has racked up 5,718 runs from 157 outings, at an average of 40.55, while also bagging 78 wickets from 107 innings at an economy rate of 4.96, recording bests of 168 and 4/26. Suzie, in the recently concluded T20 World Cup-winning campaign, contributed with scores of 27, 20, 17, 28, 26, and 32. She should be backed to build on these starts, following up with big score in this series.

Melie Kerr

The 24-year-old all-rounder, from 63 ODI innings, has accumulated 2,082 runs at an average of 42.48, and from 73 outings, has scalped 91 wickets at an economy rate of 4.55, with bests being 232* and 5/17. Melie carried her rewarding form from earlier this year into the T20 World Cup, accumulating 135 runs and scalping 15 wickets from 6 outings. The seasoned all-rounder can be counted on to produce the goods.

Pitch:

The Narendra Modi Stadium features a well-balanced center wicket that is favorable for both batters and bowlers, especially the spinners, to make an impact on the game. The average score in the 220s indicates favorable conditions for scoring runs as well.

Weather:

The conditions are ideal for cricket in Ahmedabad, with no expected rain interruptions and clear sunny skies. The temperature will be around 34°C, with light winds and a humidity level of 47%.

Fantasy playing XI:

Yastika Bhatia, Smriti Mandhana, Suzie Bates, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur, Deepti Sharma, Melie Kerr, Sophie Devine, Eden Carson, Lea Tahuhu, Radha Yadav