India have been forced into a change with Washington Sundar ruled out through injury. Somewhat surprisingly, Ayush Badoni has been called up as his replacement. Badoni is primarily a top-order batter who offers part-time spin, rather than being a like-for-like all-round option. That decision is not ideal for Axar Patel, who would have provided closer balance to the side.
Badoni could come into contention if the Rajkot surface shows signs of assisting spin. Otherwise, India may prefer the all-round skills of Nitish Kumar Reddy.
Arshdeep Singh was left out in the opening match, with Mohammed Siraj getting the nod in the pace attack.
Possible India XI: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Ayush Badoni/Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.
New Zealand, as outlined earlier in the series, are operating with a significantly depleted squad. The absence of Tom Latham, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry and Jacob Duffy leaves them short on both experience and depth.
In the first ODI they built a promising platform but lacked the middle- and lower-order firepower to convert it into a commanding total. Daryl Mitchell once again carried the batting burden. Glenn Phillips will need to rediscover his rhythm quickly after a long break, while Michael Bracewell remains under pressure to provide impact in the all-round role.
Possible New Zealand XI: Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mitch Hay, Michael Bracewell, Zak Foulkes, Kyle Jamieson, Josh Clarkson, Adithya Ashok.
Pitch Report: Rajkot
Only four One-Day Internationals have been played in Rajkot between 2013 and 2023, but the numbers point towards a high-scoring venue. Three of those four matches have seen first-innings totals exceed 300. India successfully defended 340 against Australia in 2020, before Australia replied with 352 to win here three years later.
While the sample size is small, the conditions generally favour batters. India should be aiming for a total in the region of 330 or more against an inexperienced New Zealand bowling attack. The visitors struggled to maintain scoring momentum in the first match, suggesting that building sustained partnerships may again be a challenge.
Match Outlook
On paper, this contest remains heavily tilted in India’s favour. Their depth in batting and bowling, combined with home conditions, makes them clear favourites to extend their advantage in the series. New Zealand will need a substantial improvement in both their middle-order batting and overall execution if they are to challenge consistently.
For the visitors, an ideal scenario would involve posting a genuinely imposing total and applying scoreboard pressure. For India, a controlled bowling effort followed by a measured chase—or a commanding first-innings total—should be enough to maintain their dominance.
Player to Watch: Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma remains one of the most reliable performers in one-day international cricket. His ability to provide rapid starts at the top of the order continues to set the tone for India’s innings. After a solid outing in the first game, he is likely to be even sharper second time around. If Rohit settles early, New Zealand’s attack could once again find itself under sustained pressure.