Wed Jan 14 08:30:00 UTC 2026: # India and New Zealand Face Off in Rajkot ODI: History Favors First Innings Batting

The Story

The second One Day International (ODI) between India and New Zealand is set to take place on Wednesday, January 14, at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot. The stadium has a unique history: teams batting first have consistently posted high scores and successfully defended them. The toss will be a crucial factor, given the pitch’s apparent bias towards first-innings batsmen. India will look to continue their winning form after securing victory in the first ODI held in Vadodara.

Key Points

  • The second ODI between India and New Zealand will be held in Rajkot on January 14.
  • In the four previous ODIs at the Rajkot stadium, teams batting first have always won.
  • In three of the four previous ODIs at Rajkot, teams batting first scored over 300 runs.
  • The first ODI of the series, held in Vadodara, was won by India by 4 wickets on January 11.
  • The third ODI of the series will be held in Indore on January 18.
  • In the overall H2H between India and New Zealand, out of 121 matches, India has won 63 and New Zealand has won 50.
  • In India H2H only, out of 41 matches, India has won 32 and New Zealand has won 8.

Key Takeaways

  • The Rajkot ODI pitch historically favors teams batting first, making the toss a critical factor.
  • India enters the match with momentum after winning the first ODI in Vadodara.
  • The statistical head-to-head record shows India has a clear advantage over New Zealand, especially when playing at home.
  • The series outcome may hinge on whether India can overcome the Rajkot stadium’s historical trend of favoring first-innings teams.
  • Securing an early lead in the series will be crucial for both teams, adding pressure to this second ODI.

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