India captain Shubman Gill made a significant decision at the toss of the first One Day International against New Zealand on January 11, 2026, opting to bowl first. The match, held at the Kotambi International Stadium in Vadodara, marked Gill's first time leading the Indian team in an ODI series on home soil^[1][2][3]. His choice to chase a total was described as a "bold call" given the typical preference for batting first in Indian conditions. ### Gill Explains Strategic Toss Decision Explaining his decision at the toss, Gill stated that the team wanted to "try different kinds of combinations" and assess what strategies best suit varying conditions in India^[1]. He specifically highlighted the potential impact of dew later in the evening, suggesting that batting in the second innings might become easier^[1]. "Hopefully, I think it'll be a little bit easier to bat on in the second innings with the new coming in, and that was the thought process behind bowling first," Gill said^[1]. This strategic approach indicated a willingness to experiment and test the team's adaptability under challenging circumstances. ### India's Team Composition and Captaincy Debut Gill's captaincy debut in a home ODI series comes with the support of experienced stalwarts like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, both of whom are part of the playing XI^[4][5][1][3]. Kohli, in particular, entered the series in fine form, having scored 302 runs at an average of 151 in three ODIs against South Africa, including two centuries^[3]. Rohit Sharma also maintained strong form, scoring 146 runs in the same series^[3]. The team composition for the match included six bowling options, with Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav handling spin duties, complemented by pacers Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Harshit Rana^[1]. The Indian squad faced a setback before the series opener, as wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was ruled out due to a right-side strain injury sustained during a net session^[1][2]. Dhruv Jurel was named as his replacement in the squad, though KL Rahul was assigned wicketkeeping duties for the first ODI^[2]. ### New Zealand's Inexperienced Side and Match Outcome New Zealand, led by Michael Bracewell in the absence of regular skipper Kane Williamson and Tim Southee, fielded a relatively inexperienced side for the series^[1][2]. The visitors were keen to put up a strong challenge against the host nation. Despite the initial challenge, India successfully chased down New Zealand's total. India won the match by four wickets, securing a 1-0 lead in the three-match series^[6][5]. Captain Shubman Gill anchored the innings with a steady 56 runs off 71 balls, including three fours and two sixes^[5]. Virat Kohli played a decisive role in the chase, scoring a fluent 93 runs off 91 deliveries^[6][5]. ### Impact of Gill's Leadership Fast bowler Harshit Rana praised Gill's leadership, describing him as a "free and aggressive captain" who empowers players to express themselves on the field^[5]. Rana highlighted Gill's clarity in decision-making and his composure under pressure^[5]. This win under Gill's captaincy underscores the team's calm confidence and ability to adapt to strategic decisions, setting a positive tone for the remainder of the series.

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