India cricket team will lock horns with New Zealand cricket team in the IND vs NZ 2nd ODI at the Niranjan Shah stadium in Rajkot on Wednesday. The hosts will be looking go 2-0 up in the series with yet another win after clinching a nail-biting 4-wicket victory in the 1st ODI. Should India win this game, it will be Shubman Gill’s first ODI series win as captain at home since taking over the reins from Rohit Sharma.
Match Prediction & Win Probability
- Prediction: India to win
- Win Probability: India 73-83% | New Zealand 17-27%
- Reasoning: India enters with massive momentum and the advantage of playing at a venue (Rajkot) known as a “batting paradise,” which perfectly suits their deep batting lineup. New Zealand showed grit in the first game but lacks the bowling experience to consistently contain India’s top order on flat tracks.
Match Details
- Match: India vs New Zealand, 2nd ODI
- Date: January 14, 2026 (Wednesday)
- Time: 1:30 PM IST (Toss at 1:00 PM)
- Venue: Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot
- Live Streaming: JioHotstar | Broadcast: Star Sports Network
Pitch & Weather Report
- The Ultimate Road: The Niranjan Shah Stadium is famous for its red-soil surface, offering true bounce and very little lateral movement. It is a high-scoring ground where the average first-innings score is 332.
- Toss Factor: While it’s a “bat-first” track to set a massive total, evening dew in Rajkot often makes chasing easier.
- Weather: Clear skies with a high of 28°C; no rain is predicted.
Team News & Probable XIs
India: The hosts have suffered a blow with Washington Sundar ruled out of the series (side strain). Young sensation Ayush Badoni has received his maiden call-up as a replacement. The team management must choose between Badoni’s off-spin or the pace-bowling all-round option of Nitish Kumar Reddy.
- Probable XI: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (C), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (VC), KL Rahul (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy/Ayush Badoni, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna/Arshdeep Singh.
New Zealand: The Kiwis are unlikely to make many changes. They will rely on the consistency of their openers and the firepower of Daryl Mitchell, who remains their biggest threat against India.
- Probable XI: Devon Conway (WK), Henry Nicholls, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell (C), Mitch Hay (WK), Zakary Foulkes, Kristian Clarke, Kyle Jamieson, Adithya Ashok.
Key Players to Watch
- Virat Kohli (IND): The “Chase Master” is in red-hot form after his 93 in the first ODI. He has five consecutive 50+ scores in List A cricket and is eyeing his 48th ODI century.
- Kyle Jamieson (NZ): The tall pacer was the pick of the bowlers in Vadodara, using his height to extract bounce even on a flat track. He will be crucial in the Powerplay.
- Harshit Rana (IND): Impressed with both ball and bat (29 runs) in the opener. His ability to provide breakthroughs in the middle overs is becoming a vital asset for India.
