In a captivating day-night encounter at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot on January 14, 2026, New Zealand pulled off a stunning seven-wicket victory over India in the second ODI, chasing down 285 with 15 balls to spare. This result leveled the three-match series at 1-1, setting the stage for a decisive finale in Indore. Daryl Mitchell’s unbeaten 131 off 117 balls was the cornerstone of the chase, earning him the Player of the Match award and ending New Zealand’s eight-match losing streak against India in ODIs.
India’s Innings: Rahul’s Century Amid Middle-Order Struggles
Opting to bat first after New Zealand won the toss, India started brightly but faltered in the middle overs before KL Rahul’s heroic unbeaten 112 rescued them to a competitive 284/7. Openers Rohit Sharma (24 off 38) and Shubman Gill (56 off 53) laid a solid foundation with a 70-run partnership, featuring aggressive strokeplay that saw India race to 99 runs in the first 100 legal balls. Gill’s innings included nine fours and a six, showcasing his flair before he was caught by Daryl Mitchell off Kyle Jamieson.
However, the pitch began to grip in the afternoon, slowing down the scoring rate. Virat Kohli (23 off 29) and Shreyas Iyer (8 off 17) fell to Kristian Clarke, who impressed with figures of 3/56, including Kohli playing on to his stumps. From 70/0, India slumped to 118/4, highlighting their struggles against spin—managing just 89 runs off 23 overs without attempting a single sweep shot.
Rahul, batting at No. 5, turned the tide with a composed century, his eighth in ODIs, scored off 92 balls with 11 fours and a six. He added 73 runs with Ravindra Jadeja (27 off 44) and 57 with Nitish Kumar Reddy (20 off 21), injecting momentum in the death overs. Despite these efforts, India couldn’t breach the 300-mark, with Harshit Rana (2 off 4) falling cheaply. New Zealand’s spinners, led by Michael Bracewell (1/34) and debutant Jayden Lennox (1/42), kept things tight.
New Zealand’s Chase: Mitchell and Young Dominate
Chasing 285 on a pitch that quickened under lights without dew, New Zealand faced early pressure from India’s seamers. Devon Conway (16 off 21) was bowled by debutant Harshit Rana, and Henry Nicholls (10 off 24) fell to Prasidh Krishna, leaving the visitors at 46/2 in the 13th over.
Enter Will Young (87 off 98) and Daryl Mitchell, who forged a game-changing 162-run partnership for the third wicket. Young played the anchor role with seven fours, while Mitchell attacked aggressively, particularly against Kuldeep Yadav. Mitchell charged down the track for a massive six off Kuldeep’s second ball and followed with a lap sweep for four, forcing the spinner into a defensive mode—Kuldeep ended with expensive figures of 1/82.
Young’s dismissal, caught by Nitish Kumar Reddy off Kuldeep, broke the stand at 208/3, but Mitchell continued undeterred, reaching his century—his eighth in 53 ODI innings. He survived two reprieves in the 36th over: a missed run-out by Jadeja and a dropped catch by Prasidh in the deep. Glenn Phillips (32* off 25) provided the finishing touches with a quickfire knock, including two fours and a six, as New Zealand cruised home at 286/3 in 47.3 overs.
This was New Zealand’s highest successful chase in India, underscoring their adaptability to evening conditions where the ball came onto the bat better.
Key Turning Points and Analysis
- Early Seam Movement: India’s pacers exploited the new ball, but failed to capitalize further, allowing Mitchell and Young to rebuild.
- Spin Struggles: India’s inability to sweep against New Zealand’s spinners contrasted sharply with New Zealand’s 13 sweeps for 23 runs in 18 overs of spin.
- Mitchell’s Assault on Kuldeep: This shifted momentum, turning a required run rate of over six into a comfortable chase.
- Lack of Dew: As noted by Shubman Gill pre-match, the absence of dew made batting easier in the second innings, but India’s score proved under-par without more power-hitting.
The match exposed India’s middle-order vulnerabilities and their spin attack’s ineffectiveness on a quickening pitch. For New Zealand, Mitchell’s knock—comparable to Shubman Gill’s early ODI prowess—highlighted their depth and resilience.
Scorecard Summary
India 284/7 (50 overs)
- KL Rahul 112* (92), Shubman Gill 56 (53)
- Kristian Clarke 3/56 (8), Kyle Jamieson 1/70 (10)
New Zealand 286/3 (47.3 overs)
- Daryl Mitchell 131* (117), Will Young 87 (98), Glenn Phillips 32* (25)
- Harshit Rana 1/52 (9.3), Prasidh Krishna 1/49 (9), Kuldeep Yadav 1/82 (10)
With the series tied, all eyes turn to the third ODI in Indore on January 17, where both teams will vie for supremacy in what promises to be another enthralling contest.
