Wed Jan 14 08:30:00 UTC 2026: ### India vs. New Zealand 2nd ODI: New Zealand’s Bowling Attack Restricts India, Setting the Stage for a Tense Chase
The Story:
New Zealand’s captain Michael Bracewell won the toss and elected to bowl first in the second ODI against India at the Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot on January 14, 2026. The Indian batting lineup struggled to score freely, with New Zealand’s bowlers maintaining tight control. After a steady start, India lost wickets at regular intervals, leaving KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja to build a partnership and stabilize the innings. At the time of this report, India had reached 187/4 after 38 overs.
Key Points:
- New Zealand won the toss and chose to bowl first.
- India’s score after 38 overs is 187/4.
- KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja have built a partnership of 73 runs off 87 balls.
- Shubman Gill scored a half-century (56 runs) before being dismissed.
- Virat Kohli was dismissed for 23 runs.
- Rohit Sharma made 24 runs before getting out.
- New Zealand’s bowlers, including Kyle Jamieson, Christian Clark, and Michael Bracewell, have bowled well, restricting India’s scoring.
Key Takeaways:
- New Zealand’s decision to bowl first put immediate pressure on the Indian batting lineup.
- India’s middle-order collapse slowed the scoring rate significantly.
- The partnership between KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja is crucial for India to set a competitive total.
- New Zealand’s bowling strategy focused on restricting boundaries, forcing India to grind out runs.
First Piper 