IND vs NZ 1st ODI Playing XI prediction: Rohit Sharma will be back in action for India vs New Zealand in Auckland. (CREIMAS)

With less than a year to go to the ODI World Cup, India and New Zealand will lock horns in a crucial five-match series, starting November 4 at Eden Park in Auckland on Wednesday.

The focus will rest on India’s vaunted top-order but Shubman Gill ’s men will have more pressing issues at hand, particularly with the lower order and a fledgling pace attack. Short dimensions at the high-scoring venue could mean that India could continue to stack in all-rounders, meaning wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav could still be sidelined after missing out on all five T20Is on the tour so far.

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With captain Gill having confirmed that the top-four is all but fixed, India could field two all-rounders in Naman Dhir and Axar Patel in floating options down the order.…