January 18th, 2026, is not just another ODI on the schedule but will bring high-voltage drama as India and New Zealand meet in the 3rd and final ODI for the New Zealand tour of India with the series at 1–1. This match will occur in the electric atmosphere of the Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore, and as such has a historical, pressured, and prestige-based feeling about it.
While India appeared to dominate the first ODI, New Zealand's convincing win in Rajkot came as a wake-up call to the world that reputation alone will not win games at today's level. The New Zealanders fielded a team that many thought was beneath them and did so with better preparation, better execution, and superior determination than the highly regarded Indian side. With the momentum going towards New Zealand and emotions running high for both sides, this final match should produce a defining performance from either side.
Match Snapshot
- Match: India vs. New Zealand 3rd ODI
- Date: Sunday, January 18th, 2026
- Time: 08:00 AM UTC
- Venue: Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore
- Series Status: Tied 1–1
- Winning Probabilities: India 76%, New Zealand 24%
Rajkot Takeaway: Key Takeaways from the 2nd ODI
India's defeat in Rajkot was not just a normal loss; rather, it was a tactical warning shot. Shortly after being asked to bat first, the Men in Blue crumbled quickly; they lost Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shreyas Iyer cheaply. However, after totaling 284 runs off 7 wickets thanks to a thrilling performance from Shubman Gill (56) and an unbeaten 112 from KL Rahul, it seems that India did not post a total that appeared to be dangerous on a well-crafted wicket.
What caused the biggest difference in scoring was in the middle phases of the ODI series. India was only able to make 89 runs off their 23 overs versus spin and completely lost control over their innings, while New Zealand took full advantage of India's spinning matches against New Zealand spinners using aggressive methods with reverse and standard sweeps and ultimately performed perfectly, with Daryl Mitchell scoring a majestic 131 not out and Will Young's graceful 87, providing New Zealand a comprehensive and poised chase.
Holkar Stadium, Indore: It Is the Right Approach That Matters More than Caution
Indore is known for very high team total scores and an aggressive approach to batting. The Holkar Stadium has produced an average of over 316 runs in their first innings but is also known to cater to teams that use the attacking style of play. The boundary dimensions are short, and the outfield is very fast, meaning teams with both pace and spin must use variation and confidence instead of relying on wicket assistance.
Statistics reveal that spinners at this venue have a better average of 32.5, compared to 48.4 for pacers. Nevertheless, such statistical analysis cannot give the entire picture, since it is essentially a two-dimensional situation; in Indore, teams that do not show confidence in their game plan will be punished. Conversely, teams that have confidence in their game plan will succeed consistently. The toss could potentially prove to be a significant factor, as captains are favoring bowling first and trusting their batting strength at night.
Preview for India: Excessive Pressure, National Pride, and a Significant Point to Make
Although India lost in Rajkot, they are still massive favorites based on home conditions and their undefeated 7-0 record in ODI matches in Indore; this being said, India cannot be complacent.
As in their previous game, expect to see India underperforming with batters looking to score in the mid-overs. As their vulnerability to spin bowling is now well-documented, expect the Indian team to change how they play their innings and be more aggressive while switching strike in the middle overs.
As for bowling, India may reassess their tactics. The inclusion of Arshdeep Singh may give India added attack and bowling variety by producing the ability to swing the ball. As for current spin bowlers, Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja may be in question as to whether they will continue to be successful following disappointing performances. Since the last ODI will be at least until July for both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, losing them as an option isn't something India will worry about.
Indian Predicted XI:
Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (Captain), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (Wicket Keeper), Ravindra Jadeja/Ayush Badoni, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna/Arshdeep Singh.
Preview of New Zealand: Confidence, Balance, and an Opportunity for Historic Achievement
New Zealand are confidently marching onto Indian soil to compete in this 5-ODI series with full knowledge of the ability that they possess as well as a clear and strong belief that they can defeat any team in this series. Their win in Rajkot was not a fluke; it was built upon a solid foundation of disciplined bowling and responsible batting, where Kristian Clarke demonstrated that he could expose India's weaknesses in the middle overs with incisive bowling while Daryl Mitchell showed why he was an essential member of many people’s all-time ODI batting lists.
With 215 runs through the first three games of the series, Mitchell has been the major factor supporting New Zealand's efforts thus far. The balanced batting order with contributions from Will Young at the top provides New Zealand with a competitive edge against many of the best teams. Although it may not look great on paper, New Zealand's bowling attack has previously shown that it matches up very favorably versus other teams. A win would mark New Zealand's first-ever ODI series win on Indian soil and set them up for another decade-long run towards more series wins in India.
New Zealand Predicted XI:
Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Hay (keeper), Michael Bracewell (captain), Zakary Foulkes, Kristian Clarke, Kyle Jamieson, and Jayden Lennox.
Key Players to Monitor in 3rd ODI
- Virat Kohli (India): Kohli still is the mainstay in Indian batting for One Day Internationals and has made 577 runs in his past ten ODI matches with the average of more than 70 runs per inning. He will attempt to take the bouncy pitch to his advantage by playing safe, fast, and ruling the tempo of the match.
- Daryl Mitchell (New Zealand): Mitchell has recently been performing at an unmatched level, combining his ability to hit the ball hard with his ability to stay calm under the pressure of the big match situation. He is New Zealand's best finishing player and will play a key role in the outcome of the match.
- Kyle Jamieson (New Zealand): Jamieson's ability to create bounce and movement, along with his accurate bowling, makes him one of the most potent wicket-takers when he has the new ball. Taking wickets early in the match could greatly influence the direction of the match.
- Kuldeep Yadav (India): Yadav is not having the best series so far, but given his past track record of success at Indore, he could have a very positive impact on the outcome if he can find his rhythm once again.
Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Total ODIs: 122
- India Wins: 63
- New Zealand Wins: 51
- Tied/No Result: 8
In the last six ODIs between India and New Zealand, India has won five of the six matches and thus has the upper hand; however, the gap in performance levels appears to be closing.
Match Predictions
At home, India is the favorite on paper. Their depth of batting, experience of the conditions, and unbeaten record in Indore all give them a clear advantage over New Zealand. But New Zealand's quickly developing confidence, modern tactics, and their excellent recent form mean they are a real threat as outsiders.
If India can find a way to improve their middle-overs batting and bowl with intense early pressure, they should take the series 2-1. If New Zealand manages to continue the disciplined performance they gave at Rajkot while maintaining their fearless approach from the earlier series, then we could see history made.
Current Winning Odds (via Stake.com)
Final Thoughts
This is not only going to be the final match of a series; this game is a battle of mindsets versus pressure. India carries the historical burden of home-ground dominance, while New Zealand carries the confidence that comes from good performances. Cricket supporters are going to see another display filled with drama and skill under Indore floodlights when runs should flow and nerves will be pushed to their limits.
Prediction: India will win and take the series 2-1, but they will have to fight for it against the Black Caps.
