India vs New Zealand 2025/26: 2nd ODI Preview – Can India Snag Series?
As India prepares to face New Zealand in the second ODI of the 2025/26 series, the stakes are high. India has an opportunity to secure another series victory after halting New Zealand’s impressive nine-match winning streak. Both teams have shown competitive spirit, but India’s performance has been slightly more robust in recent encounters.
Match Overview: India vs New Zealand Second ODI
India comes into this match with a record of three wins out of their last six matches. Conversely, New Zealand will seek morale from their close contest in the first ODI, where they nearly exceeded 300 runs despite losing the toss. They aim to build on that performance to create an upset against the full-strength Indian team.
Recent Performances
- India: WWLWW (last five completed ODIs)
- New Zealand: LWWWW
The conditions in Rajkot are expected to play a crucial role. Historically, teams batting first have thrived, needing to set a target close to 350 runs to secure a win since no team has successfully chased at this venue yet.
Key Players to Watch
Two standout players are Virat Kohli and Daryl Mitchell. Both players performed well in the opening match and came close to scoring centuries. Kohli, in particular, bears less pressure in the final stages of his career, which might allow him to flourish further. For New Zealand, Mitchell will need to raise his game to keep his team competitive.
Team News and Probable Lineups
Injuries have prompted changes in both squads. Ayush Badoni has been named as a replacement for the injured Washington Sundar, while Nitish Kumar Reddy remains an option. For India, Arshdeep Singh may come in for Prasidh Krishna.
| India (Probable) | New Zealand (Probable) |
|---|---|
|
1. Shubman Gill (capt.) 2. Rohit Sharma 3. Virat Kohli 4. Shreyas Iyer 5. KL Rahul (wk) 6. Nitish Kumar Reddy/Ayush Badoni 7. Ravindra Jadeja 8. Harshit Rana 9. Kuldeep Yadav 10. Arshdeep Singh 11. Mohammed Siraj |
1. Devon Conway 2. Henry Nicholls 3. Will Young 4. Daryl Mitchell 5. Mitchell Hay (wk) 6. Glenn Phillips 7. Michael Bracewell (capt.) 8. Kristian Clarke 9. Kyle Jamieson 10. Zak Foulkes 11. Adithya Ashok/Jayden Lennox |
Pitch and Conditions
The weather in Rajkot is pleasant, similar to Vadodara, which may affect ball handling slightly. The expectation is that dew will not heavily influence the game, allowing teams to focus on their strategies regardless of batting first or second.
As the teams gear up for this important ODI, all eyes will be on how they perform under pressure. Can India seize the series with a strong showing, or will New Zealand emerge victorious to level the match?
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