In a strategic move at the toss, New Zealand captain Michael Bracewell elected to field first against India in the second One-Day International (ODI), setting the stage for a high-scoring contest at Rajkot’s Niranjan Shah Stadium on Wednesday. This decision comes as New Zealand trails 1-0 in the three-match series, seeking to level the score after India’s four-wicket victory in the opening match in Vadodara.
Both teams have been forced into strategic reshuffles due to injury. India’s off-spin allrounder Washington Sundar has been ruled out of the entire series after sustaining a rib injury during the first ODI. His absence has prompted the selection committee to call up young batter Ayush Badoni to the squad, with allrounder Nitish Reddy receiving his cap and slotting directly into the playing XI as Sundar’s replacement.
For the Black Caps, a tactical change sees left-arm spin all-rounder Jayden Lennox enter the fray, replacing wrist spinner Adithya Ashok. The pitch conditions are anticipated to heavily favor batsmen, with experts predicting a substantial first-innings total. However, the significant evening dew factor is expected to play a crucial role later in the game, potentially making the ball slippery for bowlers and thereby granting a distinct advantage to the team chasing the target.
The series outcome hinges on this encounter, with the final match scheduled to be played in Indore on Sunday.
**Lineups:**
* **India:** Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (captain), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, K.L. Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, 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, Michael Bracewell (captain), Zakary Foulkes, Jayden Lennox, Kristian Clarke, Kyle Jamieson.