Today is Sunday, January 11, 2026, and India is taking on New Zealand in the 1st ODI at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara.
The pitch at Vadodara is expected to be a balanced surface with some help for spinners like Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja. India enters as the favorite, especially since New Zealand is fielding a revamped squad led by Michael Bracewell, missing key players like Williamson and Latham.
Here are 5 Dream11 team combinations catering to different risk profiles:
Team 1: Balanced & Safe (Small Leagues)
Focuses on the most consistent performers and reliable point-scorers.
- Wicket-keeper: KL Rahul
- Batters: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli (C), Daryl Mitchell, Shubman Gill
- All-rounders: Ravindra Jadeja, Michael Bracewell (VC)
- Bowlers: Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Kyle Jamieson, Arshdeep Singh
Team 2: India Dominant (High Probability)
Expects India to dominate with both bat and ball at home.
- Wicket-keeper: KL Rahul
- Batters: Rohit Sharma (VC), Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill (C), Shreyas Iyer
- All-rounders: Ravindra Jadeja, Glenn Phillips
- Bowlers: Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh
Team 3: New Zealand Counter-Attack (GPP/Mega Contest)
Useful if NZ’s top order (Conway/Mitchell) fires and their bowlers find early swing.
- Wicket-keeper: Devon Conway (VC)
- Batters: Virat Kohli, Daryl Mitchell (C), Henry Nicholls, Shubman Gill
- All-rounders: Michael Bracewell, Glenn Phillips
- Bowlers: Kyle Jamieson, Kuldeep Yadav, Zakary Foulkes, Mohammed Siraj
Team 4: Bowling & Spin Heavy (Low-Scoring Match)
Ideal if the pitch is slow and spinners/death bowlers rule the game.
- Wicket-keeper: KL Rahul
- Batters: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Daryl Mitchell
- All-rounders: Ravindra Jadeja (VC), Michael Bracewell, Glenn Phillips
- Bowlers: Kuldeep Yadav (C), Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Adithya Ashok
Team 5: Risk-Taker’s Special (Mega Grand League)
Focuses on differential picks and aggressive captains.
- Wicket-keeper: Devon Conway
- Batters: Shreyas Iyer (C), Will Young, Shubman Gill, Henry Nicholls
- All-rounders: Washington Sundar, Michael Bracewell
- Bowlers: Harshit Rana (VC), Prasidh Krishna, Michael Rae, Kyle Jamieson
Key Fantasy Tips:
- Captaincy Picks: Virat Kohli (phenomenal record vs NZ) and Shubman Gill (looking to make a point after T20 WC omission) are the safest bets.
- Differential Pick: Harshit Rana or Zakary Foulkes. Both are young, aggressive, and can pick wickets in clusters.
- Pitch Report: Watch the toss. If India bats first, loading up on their top 3 is essential. If chasing, Kuldeep Yadav becomes a lethal captaincy option.
