After a thrilling chase in the series opener, India and New Zealand move to Rajkot for the second ODI. The hosts, buoyed by Virat Kohli’s masterclass and KL Rahul’s finishing, hold a 1-0 lead and significant momentum. However, history at Rajkot adds intrigue, as India has lost 75% of their ODIs here. New Zealand showed fighting spirit in the first game and will look to leverage India’s mixed record at this venue to level the series.
India vs New Zealand Win Probability
*Favorites by form and leading run-scorer advantage.
IND vs NZ Batting Tips
India vs New Zealand 2nd ODI Match Details
| Match | Pakistan Tour of Sri Lanka 2026, 2nd ODI |
| Date | Wednesday, 14 January 2026 |
| Time | 01:30 PM (LOCAL) |
| Venue | Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot |
| Live Streaming (TV) | Star Sports Network |
| Live Streaming (Mobile) | JioHotstar |
IND vs NZ Match Prediction & Analysis (Who Will Win?)
India enters this contest as overwhelming favourites. Despite Rajkot’s historical challenges for them, their current form, batting depth, and superior bowling resources provide a clear edge. New Zealand’s hopes rest on a repeat of Kyle Jamieson’s brilliance and converting starts into big scores. On a flat Rajkot pitch expected to produce another run-fest, India’s experience in handling pressure and deeper batting lineup are likely to be decisive. The prediction strongly favours India to seal the series.
India vs New Zealand Head to Head (ODIs)
| Total Match Played | 121 |
| IND Won | 63 |
| NZ Won | 50 |
| Draw/NR/Tie | 08 |
IND vs NZ Teams Preview (Top Players to Watch)
India
The hosts displayed champion qualities in the first ODI, chasing 301 with ease. Their batting is formidable, with Kohli in sublime touch and Shubman Gill providing solidity. The bowling, though expensive at the death, found crucial breakthroughs. An injury to Washington Sundar might bring Dhruv Jurel or Nitish Kumar Reddy into the XI, and the team could consider strengthening the death bowling.
IND Probable Playing XI-
Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (C), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel / Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna/ Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj.
Top Player to Watch- Virat Kohli & Harshit Rana.
New Zealand
The visitors competed well but couldn’t sustain pressure through the middle and death overs. Their batting was led by Daryl Mitchell’s excellent 84, and Kyle Jamieson (4/41) was outstanding with the ball. They need other batters to convert starts and the bowling attack, especially in the middle overs, to be more disciplined against India’s powerhouse lineup.
NZ Probable Playing XI-
Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Hay (WK), Michael Bracewell (C), Zakary Foulkes, Kristian Clarke, Kyle Jamieson, Adithya Ashok.
Top Player to Watch- Kyle Jamieson & Kristian Clarke.
IND vs NZ Weather & Pitch Report
The Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot is one of the most batting-friendly surfaces in India. It offers a red-soil track with consistent bounce and carry. Fast bowlers get early assistance, but spinners must rely on discipline. The average first-innings score is a towering 324, meaning anything under 330 could be risky and 350 is very much achievable.
Clear skies are forecast with no chance of rain. Day temperatures around 27°C will drop to 16°C at night. A light north-east breeze is expected, with dew likely in the second innings, which may aid the chasing team.
IND vs NZ Toss Prediction
History at Rajkot is clear: teams batting first have won all four ODIs played here. India themselves have lost three matches here while chasing. Therefore, the captain winning the toss is highly likely to choose to bat first and leverage scoreboard pressure.
India vs New Zealand Dream11 Team
- Wicket-keeper: KL Rahul
- Batters: Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Daryl Mitchell
- All-rounders: Ravindra Jadeja, Michael Bracewell
- Bowlers: Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Kyle Jamieson, Harshit Rana
Pro Tip: For fantasy contests, platforms like Dream11 offer free team creation for users outside India. Always finalize your team after the official playing XIs are announced, typically 30 minutes before the match start, to make necessary adjustments.
Disclaimer: This match prediction is based on analysis of team strengths, pitch conditions, and historical data. It is for entertainment purposes only. We do not endorse or engage in any illegal betting activities. Users, especially from India, must comply with all local laws, including regulations under the new Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025.
