India are set to take on New Zealand in the second ODI of the three-match series at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot. India are already leading the series 1-0. In this match, the Indian team will look to seal the series.

Kohli’s Form Gives India Stability Amid Injury Worries

Virat Kohli’s commanding form has helped India stay steady despite a growing list of injuries to key players. As the hosts prepare for the second ODI against New Zealand on Wednesday, they will hope to avoid any further setbacks while pushing to wrap up the series.

India made a confident start to the series with a four-wicket win in the opening ODI at Vadodara. However, the victory came with a concern, as Washington Sundar was ruled out of the rest of the series due to a side strain.

Team Changes Likely After Sundar Injury

Following Sundar’s injury, the selectors added Delhi batter Ayush Badoni to the squad. Still, India are more likely to bring in all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy. This approach aligns with head coach Gautam Gambhir’s preference for players who can contribute in more than one department.

Pant Ruled Out, Jurel Gets Opportunity

India had already faced a setback even before the first ODI. Rishabh Pant suffered an injury while batting against the throw-down staff and was ruled out of the entire series.

As a result, Dhruv Jurel came into the squad. His presence also gives the team management flexibility, as they can choose to play an extra specialist batter if required.

Pitch Report

The pitch at the Niranjan Shah Stadium for the second ODI is expected to strongly support batters. Traditionally, the surface offers true bounce and good carry, which allows stroke-makers to play freely.

Because the ball comes nicely onto the bat and shows little uneven movement, batters should find it easier to time their shots. As a result, fans can expect a high-scoring contest.

Weather Report

Weather conditions are expected to remain clear throughout the day in Rajkot. There is no forecast of rain, which means uninterrupted play is likely.

The temperature may rise to around 28°C during the day, while it could drop to nearly 14°C in the evening, offering pleasant playing conditions.

Squads

India: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (c), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, KL Rahul (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.

New Zealand: Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Hay (wk), Michael Bracewell (c), Zakary Foulkes, Kristian Clarke, Kyle Jamieson, Jayden Lennox (on ODI debut).