The second One Day International between India and New Zealand takes place today. This crucial match unfolds at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot. The action begins at 1:30 PM Indian Standard Time. Cricket fans should note the toss happens thirty minutes earlier at 1 PM.
Series Context and Team Changes
India currently holds a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. They secured a four-wicket victory in the opening game at Vadodara. A win today would seal the series for the home team.
India faces a forced change to its lineup. All-rounder Washington Sundar is unavailable due to a rib injury sustained in the first match. The selectors have added Ayush Badoni to the squad. Nitish Kumar Reddy is also under consideration for a spot in the playing eleven. The team management must find the right balance to secure the series win.
New Zealand displayed impressive resilience in the first match. Despite missing several key senior players, they pushed India until the final moments. They will be eager to level the series today.
Rajkot Stadium: A Batting Paradise
Historical Performance
The Rajkot ground has a clear reputation for favoring batsmen. A striking statistic defines this venue. All four ODIs played here so far have been won by the team batting first. This makes winning the toss a potentially decisive factor.
The last ODI at this stadium occurred in September 2023. On that occasion, Australia defeated India by a margin of 66 runs. India, despite strong innings from Rohit Sharma (81) and Virat Kohli (56), could not chase down a target of 352 runs.
The run-scoring records at Rajkot are remarkable. A total of 2,445 runs have been scored in just four matches. This translates to an average of over 607 runs per game. Teams have posted scores exceeding 300 runs in five out of the eight innings played here.
Key Batsmen at the Venue
Virat Kohli holds the record for the most runs scored at this ground. He has accumulated 226 runs across four matches. His average here stands at 56.50, with a strike rate of 87.59. Kohli has registered three half-centuries at the Niranjan Shah Stadium.
Rohit Sharma follows closely with 188 runs from three appearances. He boasts an even higher average of 62.66 at this venue. Sharma has two fifties here and maintains a superior strike rate of 107.42.
Pitch and Weather Conditions
Pitch Report
The Rajkot pitch is typically flat, hard, and extremely friendly to batsmen. It provides consistent bounce and good carry. This allows players to execute their strokes with confidence from the very first ball.
Stroke-making becomes relatively easy, encouraging teams to score quickly during the powerplay overs. The team batting first generally enjoys a significant advantage on this surface.
As the match progresses, the pitch tends to slow down slightly. This change offers some assistance to spin bowlers. Fast bowlers often rely more on clever variations in pace and length rather than raw speed to succeed here.
Weather Forecast
Weather conditions in Rajkot look perfect for cricket today. The city will enjoy bright, sunny skies throughout the day. According to forecasts from AccuWeather, temperatures will be around 24 degrees Celsius at the start of play.
The mercury will dip to approximately 20 degrees later in the evening. Crucially, there is zero chance of rain predicted. Indian cricket fans can look forward to a full, uninterrupted game of cricket.
How to Watch the Match
Television viewers in India can tune into the Star Sports Network. The network's various channels will carry the live broadcast of this second ODI.
For those preferring digital streaming, the match will be available live on the JioHotstar application and its official website. This provides multiple options for fans to catch every moment of the action.
