New Zealand Playing 11 vs Sri Lanka - 1st ODI, Sri Lanka tour of New Zealand 2024-25

After winning the T20I series against Sri Lanka, New Zealand will be looking to clinch the upcoming ODI series as well. The series will start this week with the first game scheduled to be played at the Basin Reserve, Wellington on Sunday (January 5, 2025).

The Kiwis won the T20I series 2-1. Blackcaps won the first game by 8 runs before winning the second game by 45 runs to clinch the series with a match to go. In the third T20I, Sri Lanka beat the hosts by 7 runs to get some much-needed momentum ahead of the ODIs.

Batting first, Sri Lanka rode on Kusal Perera's century to score 218/5 in the allotted 20 overs. Perera scored 101 runs while captain Charith Asalanka scored 46 runs. In reply, New Zealand finished their innings on 211/7.

As the Kiwis now look to bounce back and start the ODI series on a winning note, we are taking a look at New Zealand Playing 11 for the first ODI.

New Zealand Playing 11 vs Sri Lanka - 1st ODI, Sri Lanka tour of New Zealand 2024-25:

Openers: Will Young, Rachin Ravindra

Will Young and Rachin Ravindra are expected to be the openers in the New Zealand Playing 11 for the first ODI against Sri Lanka. Young had impressed with the bat during the ODI series against Sri Lanka in November last year. In testing conditions, he got runs in all three games, scoring 48, 26 and 56*.

He will be looking to start the ODI series on a good note as well. His opening partner Rachin Ravindra will also be keen to start the series with a big score. Ravindra was struggling with his form in recent times before finally scoring a fifty in the third T20I.

He scored 69 runs off 39 balls although the Kiwis ended up losing the game. After getting some much-needed runs under his belt, Ravindra will be eyeing a better show in the ODIs.

Middle-order batsmen and allrounders: Mark Chapman, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell

Mark Chapman played in all three T20Is against Sri Lanka and struggled for consistency. In the first game, he scored 15 runs before scoring 42 runs in the second game. He was the hosts' highest scorer in the second T20I and helped his team win the game to take an unassailable 2-0 lead. In the third game, he was out for just 9.

Tom Latham looks set to return to the Kiwis Playing 11 for the upcoming game. He recently scored a half-century for Canterbury in the Super Smash and will be looking to start the ODI series with a good knock.

Daryl Mitchell had an impressive campaign in the T20I series against Sri Lanka as he got runs in all three games. In the first game, he scored 62 runs and followed it up with an 18-run knock in the second game. In the third T20I, Mitchell smashed 35 off just 17 balls.

Glenn Phillips and Michael Bracewell are expected to be the all-rounders in the New Zealand Playing 11. In the T20I series, Phillips scored just 37 runs while also going wicketless. He will be keen to do well in the ODIs.

On the other hand, Bracewell started the T20I series by scoring a match-winning fifty. In the next two games, he scored just 6 runs and picked up a solitary wicket.

Bowlers: Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy, William O'Rourke

In the bowling department, New Zealand are likely to have three frontline pacers. Matt Henry is expected to lead the attack with Jacob Duffy and William O'Rourke as his partners. Captain Mitchell Santner will be leading the spin attack. The likes of Bracewell, Phillips as well as Ravindra are other spin bowling options in the New Zealand Playing 11.