Prithvi Shaw departs after putting up 50-run stand with Mayank on debut

Hamilton, Feb 5: India and New Zealand will be aiming for a winning start as they take on each other in the opening ODI of the three-match series here at Seddon Park on Wednesday (February 5). Injuries to key players opened the door for Prithvi Shaw and Mayank Agarwal who are making their ODI debuts and will be opening the innings for India in the absence of Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan. 

The Indian line-up will be hoping to get the better of against a low-on-confidence and depleted New Zealand side. The hosts will be missing the services of their charismatic captain Kane Williamson, who will be missing the first two games due to injury. This is India’s fourth ODI assignment after the World Cup last year, having previously beaten West Indies (away and at home) and Australia (at home). The Black Caps, on the other hand, play their first ODI since that infamous loss at Lord’s in the World Cup final against England.