India carry a 1-0 lead into the second ODI against New Zealand and will aim to wrap up the series when the teams meet at Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot, on Wednesday, January 14. After a thrilling opener, this game promises another competitive contest under clear skies.
Match details
| Fixture | India vs New Zealand — 2nd ODI |
| Date & Time | Wednesday, 14 January — 1:30 p.m. IST |
| Venue | Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot |
| TV / Live stream | Star Sports Network / JioCinema |
How the series stands
India edged the opening game by four wickets in a high-scoring affair. New Zealand put up 300-plus, but the hosts’ batting depth and a crackling chase turned the tide. With momentum on their side, India will look to close out the series at home, while New Zealand will be keen to respond quickly and level the ODIs.
Match recap — what happened in game one
- India’s bowlers struggled for consistency. Mohammad Siraj, Harshit Rana and Washington Sundar-type options shared a couple of wickets each, but overall the pace attack didn’t have its best day.
- New Zealand batting impressed: Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls and Daryl Mitchell all made valuable half-centuries and helped the visitors reach a big total.
- India’s chase was built on class: Shubman Gill found form with a fifty and Virat Kohli almost carried India over the line with a superb 93.
Pitch report — what to expect in Rajkot
The Niranjan Shah surface is fairly balanced. Early on there’s enough pace and bounce to favour quick bowlers; as the innings progress the wicket tends to slow slightly and the spinners get more purchase. Historically batting first has paid dividends here, and first-innings totals around 240–250 are common.
Weather outlook
Expect a warm, pleasant day in Rajkot with no rain forecast. Temperatures should sit between roughly 16°C in the morning and 28°C by afternoon, with humidity near 40–45% — ideal conditions for a full game.
Head-to-head (ODIs)
- Matches played: 121
- India wins: 63
- New Zealand wins: 50
- Tied: 1 | No result: 7
Probable XIs
- India: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (c), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy / Ayush Badoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammad Siraj.
- New Zealand: Michael Bracewell (c), Adithya Ashok, Henry Nicholls, Devon Conway, Zak Foulkes, Mitch Hay (wk), Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Kristian Clarke, Will Young.
Players to watch
- Virat Kohli (IND) — Kohli is in terrific ODI touch and his 93 in the opener showed how dangerous he remains. If he gets another start, he can change the game single-handedly.
- Daryl Mitchell (NZ) — A consistent performer in this format, Mitchell picked up where he left off and scored 84 in the first match. He plays pace and spin comfortably and will be a key figure in NZ’s middle order.
- Shubman Gill (IND) — Gill’s fifty in the opener hinted that his confidence is growing. His rhythm at the top will be crucial if India are to chase or set another big total.
- Kyle Jamieson (NZ) — The tall pacer was the pick of the visitors’ bowlers in the first game. If he finds bounce and swing, he can make early inroads.
Toss and strategy — who should bat or bowl?
Recent games at this ground suggest captains who choose to bat first have had the edge. In the last few ODIs here, the toss-winning captain went with bowling twice and batting once, but historically the team batting first has won every men’s ODI at this venue so far. Expect captains to weigh the value of runs on the board versus early bowling conditions.
Two likely match scenarios
- Scenario 1 — India bats first: Power-play 45–50, first-innings score 280–320, India win.
- Scenario 2 — New Zealand bats first: Power-play 40–45, NZ total 240–260, India still favourites to chase and win.
Prediction
India start as clear favourites to win and seal the series 2-0. The hosts enjoy home conditions, boast batting depth and have shown the ability to chase big totals. That said, New Zealand’s top order looked solid in the opener and they are a resilient side — this game could still spring a surprise if the Kiwis’ bowlers step up early.
Expect an exciting contest in Rajkot: a couple of big knocks or a flurry of early wickets could tilt the game either way, but the smart money is on India to make it two from two.