🇮🇳🏏 India vs New Zealand 2nd ODI Preview – Rajkot Showdown With Series on the Line 🔥
The India vs New Zealand ODI rivalry has always been rich in tension, momentum shifts, and tactical intrigue — and the second ODI at Rajkot promises exactly that.
After India halted New Zealand’s nine-match winning streak in the opening ODI, the spotlight now shifts to January 14, 2026, where Rohit Sharma’s men have a golden opportunity to seal yet another bilateral series at home.
But this match is more than just a potential series clincher.
It’s about:
- India’s adaptability without Washington Sundar
- New Zealand’s resilience after their first setback in weeks
- A batting-friendly Rajkot surface where 350 is the new par
Let’s dive deep into a Cricketory-style, human-written, tactical breakdown of the match — covering team news, pitch behavior, key players, selection dilemmas, and what to expect under lights.
🌍 Big Picture: Can India Seal the Series in Rajkot? 🔑
Momentum is a fragile thing in international cricket.
New Zealand came into this series red-hot, riding a nine-match ODI winning streak, only for India to bring them crashing back to reality in Vadodara.
Despite:
- Losing the toss
- Playing with an inexperienced bowling unit
India still found a way to win.
That alone speaks volumes.
Now, at Rajkot — a venue where no team has successfully chased in ODIs so far — India will back themselves to dominate again, especially if they bat first.
New Zealand, however, will feel they were 20 runs short in the first ODI. And at this level, 20 runs can define an entire series.
📊 Form Guide – Momentum Check
🇮🇳 India (Last 5 ODIs)
WWLWW
India’s consistency at home remains unmatched, even when they aren’t at their absolute best.
🇳🇿 New Zealand (Last 5 ODIs)
LWWWW
The loss snapped a long winning run, but the confidence is still intact.
🚨 Major Talking Point: Washington Sundar Injury & Selection Headache 🤕
The biggest concern for India ahead of the second ODI is the absence of Washington Sundar, ruled out with a side strain.
Sundar’s value lies in:
- Powerplay control
- Batting depth
- Tactical flexibility
Without him, India must choose between:
- Nitish Kumar Reddy – seam-bowling all-rounder
- Ayush Badoni – batting all-rounder with part-time spin
🔍 Cricketory Insight
At Rajkot, where runs flow freely and bowlers need containment more than penetration, Badoni’s batting depth might just edge him ahead — especially if India wants insurance against middle-order collapses.
🧠 Tactical Dilemma: Nitish Reddy vs Ayush Badoni
🔹 Nitish Kumar Reddy
Pros
- Genuine fast-bowling option
- Power-hitter in death overs
Cons
- Less experience in ODIs
- Bowling may be expensive on flat tracks
🔹 Ayush Badoni
Pros
- Calm under pressure
- Handy spin option
- Excellent against pace
Cons
- Not a frontline bowler
📌 Likely Pick: Ayush Badoni — especially if dew reduces spin impact.
⭐ In the Spotlight: Kohli vs Mitchell – The Pillars 🧱
🇮🇳 Virat Kohli
Kohli’s innings in the first ODI was a reminder that freedom enhances greatness.
- Less burden
- More fluency
- Better strike rotation
This late-career version of Kohli looks relaxed — and dangerous.
🇳🇿 Daryl Mitchell
For New Zealand, Mitchell remains the glue.
- Plays spin well
- Handles pressure
- Anchors middle overs
If Mitchell fails, New Zealand’s innings tends to unravel.
🏟️ Pitch Report: Rajkot – A Batter’s Paradise? 🧨
Rajkot’s new stadium has hosted four ODIs so far.
📌 Key Trends
- No successful ODI chase yet
- Teams batting first must aim for 350+
- Pitch slightly quickens under lights
- Dew present, but manageable
Unlike Vadodara, Rajkot offers:
- True bounce
- Minimal lateral movement
- Even carry
This is a venue where batting depth wins matches.
🌙 Toss Factor: Bat First or Chase?
Traditionally, teams feared chasing under dew.
But modern batting units have adapted.
Still:
- Rajkot history favors teams batting first
- Scoreboard pressure is real here
📌 Ideal Strategy: Bat first, aim big, attack in powerplays.
🧮 Stats & Trivia That Matter
- India’s bowlers went wicketless in the powerplay in Vadodara — first time in 13 ODIs
- New Zealand have the worst win-loss record in India among teams with 20+ matches
- NZ: 8 wins, 32 losses in India
History is firmly against the visitors.
🔁 Team News & Probable XIs
🇮🇳 India (Probable XI)
- Shubman Gill (c)
- Rohit Sharma
- Virat Kohli
- Shreyas Iyer
- KL Rahul (wk)
- Ayush Badoni / Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Harshit Rana
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Arshdeep Singh
- Mohammed Siraj
🔄 Possible Change: Arshdeep Singh for Prasidh Krishna
🇳🇿 New Zealand (Probable XI)
- 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
New Zealand may persist with Ashok despite his tough debut.
🧠 Cricketory Tactical Analysis 🔍
🔥 India’s Strength
- Batting depth till No. 8
- Spin choke in middle overs
- Home familiarity
⚠️ India’s Weakness
- Middle-order slowdown after Kohli
- Powerplay bowling inconsistencies
🔥 New Zealand’s Strength
- Calm middle order
- Athletic fielding
- Jamieson’s bounce
⚠️ New Zealand’s Weakness
- Inexperienced spin attack
- Over-reliance on Mitchell
🔮 Match Prediction: Who Has the Edge?
If India:
- Win the toss and bat first
- Get 70+ from top three
They should comfortably seal the series.
New Zealand’s best chance lies in:
- Early wickets
- A Mitchell-Phillips partnership
- Restricting India under 320
📊 Win Probability
- India: 65%
- New Zealand: 35%
❓ FAQs – India vs New Zealand 2nd ODI
❓ When is the 2nd ODI being played?
A: January 14, 2026 (Day/Night), Rajkot.
❓ Why is Washington Sundar not playing?
A: He has been ruled out due to a side strain.
❓ Who will replace Sundar?
A: Likely Ayush Badoni, with Nitish Reddy as an alternative.
❓ Is Rajkot good for chasing?
A: Historically, no team has successfully chased in ODIs here.
❓ Can New Zealand bounce back?
A: Yes — but they need near-perfect execution.
Washington Sundar OUT! Rajkot Awaits a Run-Fest as India Eye Series Kill Against New Zealand
🏁 Final Word 🏏
This Rajkot ODI is a classic momentum vs desperation battle.
India smell blood.
New Zealand sense opportunity.
But unless the visitors produce something extraordinary, India’s depth, conditions, and confidence make them clear favorites to seal yet another home series.
The only question left:
👉 Will India dominate again, or will New Zealand script a Rajkot surprise?