Rajkot, Jan 13 (NationPress) After a tense four-wicket victory in the opening match at Vadodara, India is set to face New Zealand in Rajkot, aiming to clinch the series with an unassailable lead in this three-match series. The teams will battle it out at the Niranjan Shah Stadium, known for its batting-friendly conditions, where the BlackCaps will strive to equalize the series while the home side seeks a 2-0 advantage.

India's squad for the second ODI will see at least one alteration as Washington Sundar has been ruled out for the remainder of the series due to an injury. The all-rounder has been replaced by Ayush Badoni, who has received his first ODI call-up. Captain Shubman Gill faces a typical ‘selection dilemma’ after several less experienced players have performed admirably under pressure.

The initial match highlighted that while veterans like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma remain pivotal, the inclusion of relatively new players like Harshit Rana is transforming the team's tactical strategy. As the action moves to Rajkot, the management must decide whether to stick with the successful lineup or rotate bowlers to manage their workloads.

India has achieved their eighth successive ODI victory over New Zealand since 2023. They have maintained a winning streak of eight consecutive ODIs against the Kiwis on home soil since 2017.

The series opener also saw India successfully chase down the second-highest target against New Zealand, falling just short of the 316 runs set in Bengaluru in 2010.

New Zealand put up a strong response in the first match. Although it seemed they were out of contention when Kohli and Iyer were dominating, the BlackCaps showcased remarkable resilience before India ultimately secured the win. Rohit Sharma made the initial runs but was out early in the Power-play, while Gill had a slow start but found his rhythm with Kohli's support.

India’s No. 3 entered with confidence, aggressively facing the bowlers and scoring boundaries, forming a robust partnership of over 100 runs with the captain. After Gill's dismissal, Shreyas Iyer continued the aggressive approach, partnering with Kohli to keep India in control.

Then, Kyle Jamieson made his mark, taking three wickets in just seven balls to dismiss Kohli and Iyer, thrusting New Zealand back into contention. With Washington injured, Rana was sent in first, providing a useful cameo to relieve pressure on wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul.

Even after Rana's dismissal, a hobbling Washington stepped up, and together with Rahul, they guided India home with an over to spare. New Zealand put forth their best effort and pushed India to the limit, but ultimately they fell short in the crucial moments.

The Kiwis displayed resilience with both bat and ball. Despite a solid start, a mid-innings slump almost derailed their efforts, but Daryl Mitchell steadied the ship, helping them reach a competitive score.

With the ball, they kept fighting, pushing the match until the penultimate over. India, however, will recognize their need for improvement across all facets of the game as they prepare for the second match on Wednesday.

When: Wednesday, Jan 13, 1:30 PM IST

Where: Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot

Where to watch: Star Sports Network for live TV broadcast and JioHotstar for live streaming

Squads

India: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (c), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Rishabh Pant, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravindra Jadeja, Ayush Badoni

New Zealand: Devon Conway (wk), Will Young, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell (c), Zakary Foulkes, Nick Kelly, Josh Clarkson, Michael Rae, Kyle Jamieson, Mitchell Hay, Adithya Ashok, Kristian Clarke, Jayden Lennox