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Key Takeaways
- 1📊 India choose to bowl first in the 1st ODI vs New Zealand
- 2🏆 Shreyas Iyer returns to international cricket after Oct 2025 injury
- 3💡 Dew factor and India’s chase strength shape the toss decision
- 4🔮 All eyes on debutant Clarke and India’s top order in the run chase
"Shreyas Iyer is back playing for India for the first time since he suffered an injury in October 2025"
The first ODI between India and New Zealand in the 2025-26 season began with an early twist as the Men in Blue chose to bowl first, backing their chase strength and the looming threat of evening dew. The match also marked a special moment for Clarke, making his international debut for New Zealand.
Iyer Returns, India Trust Their Chase Game
The big boost for India was the return of Shreyas Iyer, playing his first game back in national colours since his injury lay-off in October 2025. For fans, seeing that familiar compact technique back in the middle order adds both stability and flair, especially in a format where Iyer has often controlled innings with smart rotation and clean hitting.
Winning the toss, India opted to bowl, clearly reading conditions and dew as the key factors. Under lights in India, captains increasingly prefer to chase, and this decision fits perfectly with the side’s modern white-ball DNA – strong top order, deep batting, and aggressive finishers.
On the other side, New Zealand handed a debut cap to Clarke, a proud moment for the youngster and a fresh option in a line-up that is constantly regenerating. An Indian crowd loves witnessing debuts – even for opposition players – and all eyes will be on how Clarke handles his first taste of international pressure.
With Iyer’s comeback, a debutant in Clarke, and India chasing under lights, this series opener already has the feel of a high-stakes curtain-raiser. If the dew sets in and the pitch eases out, we could be in for a classic ODI chase featuring some Dhoni-style calm and Kohli-esque intensity from India’s batting core.
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