India bowl first in 2nd ODI vs New Zealand at Wellington, XIs unchanged
Synopsis
India won the toss and chose to bowl in the 2nd ODI at Wellington, unchanged from the XI that beat New Zealand by five wickets in Auckland. With Devon Conway ruled out for the entire series due to concussion, the hosts face a top-order gap — and India's pace trio of Arshdeep, Kamboj and Brar will fancy another overcast morning.
Key Takeaways
India won the toss and elected to bowl in the 2nd ODI against New Zealand at Hnry Stadium, Wellington on 7 November 2026 .
India lead the five-match series 1-0 after a five-wicket win in the first ODI at Eden Park, Auckland .
Virat Kohli scored 74 off 51 balls and pacers Arshdeep Singh , Anshul Kamboj , and Gurnoor Brar bowled New Zealand out for 185 in the opener.
Devon Conway was ruled out of the entire series due to a concussion sustained during training before the first ODI.
Both India and New Zealand named unchanged Playing XIs for the second match.
India won the toss and elected to bowl first against New Zealand in the second ODI of the five-match series at Hnry Stadium, Wellington, on 7 November 2026. Both sides named unchanged Playing XIs as India look to extend their 1-0 series lead.
India's toss call and team selection
India skipper Shubman Gill did not hesitate after calling correctly, opting to bowl under overcast Wellington skies. 'We will bowl first. No surprises, the conditions are overcast and the wicket was under covers. Yesterday's practice was called off because of rain, but we have prepared well and are in good spirits. Same team for us,' Gill said at the toss.
Notably, despite Mohammed Siraj travelling with the squad and being available for selection, the team management chose to persist with the same XI that won the first ODI — a signal of confidence in a settled combination.
How India won the first ODI
India secured a five-wicket victory in the opening game at Eden Park, Auckland, on Wednesday in a rain-shortened contest. Pacers Arshdeep Singh, Anshul Kamboj, and Gurnoor Brar combined to dismiss New Zealand for 185 runs in 40.2 overs. Virat Kohli then anchored the chase with a composed 74 off 51 balls, steering India past the revised target with relative ease.
Devon Conway ruled out of entire series
New Zealand suffered a significant blow on Friday when opener Devon Conway — who had already sat out the first ODI — was ruled out of the remaining matches after sustaining a concussion during training ahead of the series opener. His absence weakens the BlackCaps' top-order depth considerably heading into a must-not-lose second game.
New Zealand's mindset at the toss
BlackCaps captain Mitchell Santner acknowledged the challenging conditions but backed his side to post a competitive total. 'Looks like a lovely day to bowl first, but we'll see how the wicket plays and put up a score. Rain around, it's been under covers, will do a bit. Need to get over the tricky period. We're excited, some weather around and we have had a nice rest. They're a great side, winning the toss does help, but they've played well. Same team for us,' Santner said.
Playing XIs
India: Shubman Gill (c), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wk), Naman Dhir, Anshul Kamboj, Auqib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar, Arshdeep Singh
New Zealand: Tim Seifert, Will Young, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (wk), Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner (c), Nathan Smith, Kyle Jamieson, Jacob Duffy, Blair Tickner
With rain still threatening Wellington and both sides unchanged, the second ODI shapes as a critical test of India's pace attack on a surface that is expected to offer early movement — and a first opportunity for New Zealand to level the series.
Point of View
In-form pace unit that is already doing the job. The Devon Conway concussion is a bigger story than it appears; New Zealand's batting order now lacks its most reliable accumulator, and on a surface likely to aid swing and seam, that gap could be decisive. Wellington's weather-affected history also invites a Duckworth-Lewis dimension that India, with their deeper batting, are better placed to exploit. The series is India's to lose, not New Zealand's to win.
NationPress
7 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at the toss in the 2nd ODI between India and New Zealand?
India captain Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to bowl first at Hnry Stadium, Wellington, on 7 November 2026. He cited overcast conditions and a wicket that had been under covers as the reason for the decision.
What was the result of the 1st ODI between India and New Zealand?
India won the first ODI by five wickets at Eden Park, Auckland. New Zealand were bowled out for 185 in 40.2 overs, and Virat Kohli's 74 off 51 balls guided India to the target with ease.
Why is Devon Conway missing from the New Zealand squad?
Devon Conway was ruled out of the entire five-match ODI series after sustaining a concussion during training ahead of the first game. He had already missed the opening ODI before the official ruling was confirmed on Friday.
Did India make any changes to their Playing XI for the 2nd ODI?
No, India named an unchanged XI despite Mohammed Siraj being available for selection. New Zealand also retained the same eleven players from the first match.
Who are the key performers to watch in the India vs New Zealand 2nd ODI?
India's pace trio of Arshdeep Singh, Anshul Kamboj, and Gurnoor Brar will be central on a seam-friendly Wellington surface, while Virat Kohli's batting form makes him the key figure in India's chase if they are set a target.
