As India prepare for the opening ODI against New Zealand in Vadodara, Washington Sundar stands at an interesting point in his career. The young all-rounder has been working to regain rhythm after an up-and-down domestic season for Tamil Nadu in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025–26. His recent outing against Tripura saw him score 9 runs and pick up 1 wicket, adding to his steady but unspectacular run in the competition.
However, Sundar value in white-ball cricket remains undeniable. In 2025, he impressed during the England Test tour with his maiden century, contributed in India Champions Trophy success, and delivered multiple impact spells. Ahead of IPL 2026, he joins Gujarat Titans after being picked for ₹3.2 crore, highlighting his continued importance as a powerplay off-spinner and lower-order finisher.
Against New Zealand in ODIs, Sundar has played only a handful of matches, but he has already shown flashes of quality with both bat and ball.
Washington Sundar vs New Zealand – ODI Batting Stats (Overall)
| Matches | Innings | Not Outs | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | Highest Score | 50s | 100s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 5 | 2 | 116 | 38.66 | 100.86 | 51 | 1 | 0 |
What stands out
- A brilliant 37 off 16 balls* in Auckland at a strike rate of 231.25.
- Maiden ODI fifty (51 off 64) in Christchurch.
- Reliable batting at No.7 with a healthy average of 36.33.
- Provides finishing ability and stability in lower middle order.
Also see: IND vs NZ ODI Head-to-Head, Stats
Match-by-Match ODI Batting Record vs New Zealand
| Date | Ground | Position | Runs | Balls | SR | How Dismissed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Nov 2022 | Eden Park | 7 | 37* | 16 | 231.25 | Not out |
| 27 Nov 2022 | Seddon Park | – | – | – | – | Did not bat |
| 30 Nov 2022 | Hagley Oval | 7 | 51 | 64 | 79.69 | c Latham b Southee |
| 18 Jan 2023 | Hyderabad | 7 | 12 | 14 | 85.71 | lbw b Shipley |
| 21 Jan 2023 | Raipur | – | – | – | – | Did not bat |
| 24 Jan 2023 | Indore | 7 | 9 | 14 | 64.29 | c Mitchell b Tickner |
| 11 Jan 2026 | Vadodara | 8 | 7* | 7 | 100.00 | – |
Washington Sundar vs New Zealand – ODI Bowling Stats (Overall)
| Matches | Innings | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Best Bowling | Average | Strike Rate | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 6 | 34.0 | 1 | 191 | 2 | 2/7 | 95.50 | 102.00 | 5.61 |
What stands out
- Best bowling: 2/7 in Raipur, a sharp and impactful powerplay spell.
- Controls run-flow effectively with economy under 6.00.
- Useful middle-overs option but has limited wicket-taking impact so far.
Match-by-Match ODI Bowling Record vs New Zealand
| Date | Ground | Overs | Figures | Key Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Nov 2022 | Eden Park | 10.0 | 0/42 | – | 4.20 |
| 30 Nov 2022 | Hagley Oval | 3.0 | 0/16 | – | 4.46 |
| 18 Jan 2023 | Hyderabad | 7.0 | 0/50 | – | 5.40 |
| 21 Jan 2023 | Raipur | 3.0 | 2/7 | G D Phillips, L H Ferguson | 5.00 |
| 24 Jan 2023 | Indore | 6.0 | 0/49 | – | 5.66 |
| 11 Jan 2026 | Vadodara | 5.0 | 0/27 | – | 5.40 |
Why Washington Sundar Matters for This ODI Series
Washington Sundar brings a rare combination of:
- Accurate off-spin
- Lower-order power hitting
- Control in powerplay overs
- Flexibility to bat anywhere from No. 5 to 8
Vadodara pitch is expected to assist spin in the second half, making Sundar a valuable option in India XI. With India moving under new ODI captain Shubman Gill, the team needs adaptable all-rounders—an area where Sundar fits perfectly.
If he gets the opportunity, this series offers a chance to strengthen his white-ball comeback before IPL 2026 and the T20 World Cup season.
Washington Sundar ODI numbers against New Zealand hint at a player with tremendous potential. His explosive innings of 37 off 16*, his calm fifty in Christchurch, and his economical spells show why he remains an important all-rounder for India.
Also see:
- Rohit Sharma vs New Zealand ODI Records
- Virat Kohli vs New Zealand ODI Records
- Shreyas Iyer vs New Zealand ODI Records
- KL Rahul vs New Zealand ODI Stats
- Shubman Gill vs New Zealand ODI Records
- Kuldeep Yadav vs New Zealand ODI Stats
- Mohammed Siraj vs New Zealand ODI Stats
- Ravindra Jadeja vs New Zealand ODI Stats
