India Make Key Squad Changes Ahead of 2nd ODI vs New Zealand

India aims to seal the ODI series against New Zealand in the second game here on Wednesday, despite mounting injury worries in the squad. The hosts started the series on a winning note, defeating New Zealand by four wickets in the opener at Vadodara, but suffered the loss of all-rounder Washington Sundar, ruled out of the series due to a side strain.

To cover Sundar’s absence, the selectors have added Ayush Badoni from Delhi, while Nitish Kumar Reddy is expected to be included in the playing XI as another all-round option, reflecting head coach Gautam Gambhir’s preference for multi-skilled players. India’s wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant also remains sidelined after sustaining an injury during pre-series practice, prompting the inclusion of Dhruv Jurel as a specialist batting replacement if needed.

Despite these setbacks, India’s senior players have provided assurance. Virat Kohli , in scintillating form, scored a 91-ball 93 in the first ODI, narrowly missing his 54th ODI century, while captain Shubman Gill and veteran Rohit Sharma provided solid starts in the batting lineup. Kohli’s confidence appears high, having recently become the fastest player to 28,000 international runs across formats, and is performing with freedom and attacking intent.

India’s bowling, however, is an area of concern. Spinners struggled in Vadodara due to lack of grip and turn, with fast bowlers like Arshdeep Singh and Prasidh Krishna compensating by varying pace. The team will hope for better support from the pitch at Niranjan Shah Stadium.

New Zealand, despite the loss, showed resilience in the opener. Devon Conway and Henry Nicholls opened with a 117-run partnership, while Daryl Mitchell ’s 84 provided the backbone for a competitive total. Kyle Jamieson (4/41) broke India’s chase briefly, and late contributions from Mitchell Hay and Kristian Clarke were notable positives for the visitors. Rookie leg-spinner Adithya Ashok will look to improve on his performance after the first game.

The second ODI promises more excitement, with India determined to continue their winning momentum while managing injuries carefully ahead of the T20 World Cup, less than a month away.

Match Details: India Squad:

Shubman Gill (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul (wk), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ayush Badoni, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana. New Zealand Squad: Michael Bracewell (c), Devon Conway (wk), Mitchell Hay (wk), Nick Kelly, Henry Nicholls, Will Young, Josh Clarkson, Zak Foulkes, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Adithya Ashok, Kristian Clarke, Kyle Jamieson, Jayden Lennox, Michael Rae. Match Start: 1:30 pm IST on Jan 14, 2026 , at Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot.