New Zealand vs India Prediction: Betting Tips & Odds

New Zealand host India in an international friendly at Go Media Stadium in Auckland on Thursday at 7pm NZT.

It’s their first game on home soil since the World Cup. India arrive with one win in their last four matches, and that came at the SAFF Championship with a largely different squad.

I’ve got a handicap angle at just over $2 in this New Zealand vs India preview for anyone browsing football betting sites this week.

New Zealand

Four of the seven goals New Zealand scored in their last international window came from players who aren’t in this squad.

Ben Waine got two of them, against Palestine and China. Marko Stamenic and Ben Old also scored in Japan. None of the three has been called up this time, and no reason was given for leaving out Stamenic or Old.

Chris Wood is back, although minutes have been hard to come by for him at Nottingham Forest this season. I’m not sure how sharp he’ll be, and Jesse Randall could end up as their main goal threat.

I’m pleased to see Matt Garbett return too. He had to leave the squad on the eve of the World Cup with an injury, and he’s the midfielder most likely to get forward and support Wood.

Tyler Bindon opened the scoring inside the first five minutes against China from centre-back. I’d have a small interest in him as an anytime scorer if he’s priced in double figures.

Team News: There were no injuries reported when the squad was named. Piper, Sheridan and Walker are uncapped and could get debuts.

Predicted Lineup: Paulsen; Bindon, Surman, Pijnaker; Elliot, Garbett, Rufer, De Vries; McCowatt; Randall, Wood.

India

Khalid Jamil has left out his long-serving goalkeeper, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, for this tour.

That call came after a rough October. Brazil won 4-0 in Kolkata on 3 October, and Uruguay put six past them three days later, also in Kolkata. Anirudh Thapa had them level at 1-1 in that Uruguay game before they conceded five more.

It wasn’t all bad in that window. They held Panama, a World Cup side, to a 1-1 draw in Bengaluru on 25 September, and Ryan Williams scored after running onto a long ball from Akash Mishra that split their defence. Williams is still their most likely scorer for me.

Three of the squad are leaving the SAFF Championship in Dhaka to join up, which leaves very little time to prepare together before kick-off.

Team News: Anwar is out with a hamstring injury. Apuia and Sanan have also been ruled out.

Predicted Lineup: Kaith; Naorem, Mehtab, Bijoy, Mishra; Manvir, Thapa, Hnamte, Colaco; Williams, Lalhlansanga.

• New Zealand won the only previous meeting with India, 2-1 in Mumbai in 2018.
• Only one of New Zealand’s last four matches ended in defeat inside 90 minutes.
• Both teams have scored in three of New Zealand’s last four matches.
• India have conceded at least two goals in each of their last three matches.
• Each of India’s last three matches has had over 2.5 goals.

I’m tipping New Zealand to win 3-0.

India have been brave on the ball against better sides. But they leave big gaps when they lose it, and a side with Wood up front should find a few of them.

The draw at $5.24 did tempt me for a minute. India held Panama, while New Zealand needed a penalty shootout to get past the same opponents in Japan. I moved on from it because I don’t trust this India defence over 90 minutes.

There’s a question mark over how much this New Zealand group has played together, with three uncapped players in the squad and several regulars missing. I wouldn’t be surprised if the first half is scrappy.

Darren Bazeley used 10 substitutes against Palestine in September, and I’d expect plenty of changes again here. Fresh legs against a tiring India side late on could be where the second and third goals come from.

If you’re placing this on New Zealand betting apps, Wood in the anytime scorer market is worth a look as well. He’s got 45 goals in 95 appearances for his country.

New Zealand -1.5 Handicap @ $2.10

India’s defence looked shaky well before Anwar picked up his hamstring injury, and they’ll have a different goalkeeper facing Wood at Go Media Stadium.

New Zealand’s 3-0 win over China in Chongqing in September came against a better side than this India team, in my view. China had home advantage that night too.

A 2-0 is enough to collect here, and if India’s defence opens up like it did in Kolkata, it could be a lot more.

I’m taking the $2.10 for a two-goal margin with sign up bonus sites.