When India takes to the deck at Eden Park on November 4, 2026, they'll have more than silverware on the line in the first match of a five-match ODI series against New Zealand.

After a rapid-fire T20I series, where India got off to a commanding 3-0 lead but were taken apart by the Black Caps in the last two games, it's time for some long-form cricket. The three-match ODI series forms a crucial part of India's month-and-a-half-long tour of the nation and is a big game for both teams.

Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer will share captaincy duties for the visitors during the five-match series, while Mitchell Santner will lead the hosts.

All eyes will be on the big hitters in the Indian batting line-up.

Here are three big hitters that will play a major role in the India vs New Zealand series:

1. Rohit Sharma & Virat Kohli

Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will make this series a huge sporting event, coming into the series with strong 2026 stats.

They will have the bonus of it possibly being their last time playing international cricket in this country.

Virat Kohli

Kohli has scored 552 runs from 9 innings in 2026. This gives him an average of 69.00 and a strike rate of 117.94. He has hit 2 centuries and 3 half centuries.

Rohit Sharma

Rohit has scored 604 runs from 12 ODIs, averaging 50.33 and hitting a strike rate of 104.67. He has hit 2 centuries and 2 fifties.

2.Shubman Gill

Shubman Gill is heading back to New Zealand after debuting for his country.

However, he has become the best white-ball batter in the world and will be captaining India in the first 3 ODIs.

In 2026, Gill has played a masterclass. He sits atop the run charts this year after scoring 895 runs from just 12 ODIs, averaging a ridiculous 111.87 and hitting a mind-blowing strike rate of 118.70.

In September 2026, Gill hit an unbelievable 223 not out in Guwahati. This led India to victory against the West Indies after they were set a mammoth target of 406. Gill will be looking to add another chapter to his golden career with the bat in hand.

3. Daryl Mitchell

Daryl Mitchell is the one player Indian bowlers fear.

Mitchell comes into the ODI leg having had a ridiculous amount of success in the recent T20I series, hitting 176 runs off 174.26 balls at a strike rate against India.

Against India in ODIs, Mitchell has scored a ridiculous 741 runs from 11 innings at an average of 74.10 and a strike rate of 97.11. In 2026, he has averaged around 95.00 from 6 ODIs.

He already won Player of the Series when New Zealand beat India 2-1 back in January 2026 and will be the Black Caps' most lethal weapon in the bid to win 1's home soil.