India, Jan 14 : The spotlight shifts to Rajkot on Wednesday, January 14, as India take on New Zealand in the second ODI of the series at the Niranjan Shah Stadium. The match will begin at 1:30 PM IST, with the toss scheduled for 1:00 PM.
India enter the contest with momentum on their side following a four wicket victory in the opening ODI in Vadodara on January 11. New Zealand, however, will be eager to bounce back and keep the series alive.
India vs New Zealand 2nd ODI: Match recap
In the first ODI, New Zealand posted a competitive total after opting to bat, with Devon Conway (56) and Henry Nicholls (62) laying a strong foundation through a century opening stand. India clawed back with disciplined bowling before Virat Kohli anchored the chase with a sublime 93, narrowly missing out on his 48th ODI century.
Supported by half-centuries from Shubman Gill (56) and Shreyas Iyer (49), India chased down the target with confidence to take a 1-0 lead.
India vs New Zealand 2nd ODI: Key players to watch
Virat Kohli will once again be the centre of attention after his masterclass in the series opener. In red-hot form, the former India captain will be keen to convert another strong start into a landmark hundred.
Rohit Sharma, despite a modest 34 in the first ODI, could thrive on the true bounce of the Rajkot pitch, which traditionally suits stroke-makers. With the ball, Kuldeep Yadav remains India’s key wicket-taking spinner, while Ravindra Jadeja’s all-round value adds balance to the side.
For New Zealand, Daryl Mitchell’s composed 84 in the opener underlined his importance in the middle order. Devon Conway’s ability to handle spin will also be crucial on Indian surfaces. Pace spearhead Kyle Jamieson, fresh off a four-wicket haul, will lead the visitors’ bowling attack.
India vs New Zealand 2nd ODI: Pitch report
The Rajkot surface is expected to be batting-friendly, offering a flat track with consistent bounce. Teams batting first have won all four ODIs played at the venue, with 300-plus totals being common. Australia’s 352/7 against India in 2023 remains the highest ODI score here.
Dew is unlikely to be a major factor, making the contest evenly balanced regardless of the toss.
India vs New Zealand 2nd ODI: Match details
Match: India vs New Zealand, 2nd ODI
Venue: Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot
Date & Time: January 14, 2026, 1:30 PM IST (Toss at 1:00 PM)
Live Telecast: Star Sports Network
Live Streaming: JioHotstar app
India vs New Zealand 2nd ODI: Probable XIs
India:
Shubman Gill (c), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy/Ayush Badoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj
New Zealand:
Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Hay (wk), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell (c), Kristian Clarke, Kyle Jamieson, Zak Foulkes, Adithya Ashok/Jayden Lennox
With a flat pitch and two strong batting line-ups, Rajkot could witness another high-scoring encounter as India aim to seal an early series advantage and New Zealand fight to stay in contention.