India bat against New Zealand in first ODI
The hosts can regain the top spot from South Africa if they win this year's contest 3-0.
MUMBAI (AFP) – Indian captain Virat Kohli won the toss and opted to bat first in the opening one-day international against New Zealand at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on Sunday.
"It looks a good wicket to bat on; to come out and bowl again with this humidity will make it a tough day," Kohli told broadcasters after the coin landed in his favour.
Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson said he also would have chosen to bat but backed his pace bowlers to give India’s batsmen a tough outing in the first game of the three-match series.
"We would have had a bat as well. (But) our seamers are experienced -- (Tim) Southee, (Trent) Boult and (Adam) Milne," said the 27-year-old batsman.
India, ranked second in the world in 50-over cricket, defeated the Black Caps 3-2 in last year’s ODI series.
The hosts can regain the top spot from South Africa if they win this year’s contest 3-0.
The second ODI takes place in Pune on Wednesday, with the third in Kanpur on October 29.
The two sides will then play three T20 matches.
India
Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma (vice-captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wicketkeeper), Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar
New Zealand
Kane Williamson (captain), Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Ross Taylor, Tom Latham (wicketkeeper), Henry Nicholls, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Adam Milne, Trent Boult
