Virat Kohli’s scintillating form has helped India sideline injury woes, but the team management will be hoping the concerns do not multiply as the hosts aim to clinch the ODI series in the second match against New Zealand in Rajkot on Wednesday.
India began the series with a four-wicket win in Vadodara, though the victory came at a cost. All-rounder Washington Sundar was ruled out of the remainder of the series after sustaining a side strain, prompting the selectors to call up Delhi’s Ayush Badoni as cover.
However, in keeping with head coach Gautam Gambhir’s preference for versatile cricketers, Nitish Kumar Reddy is expected to slot into the playing XI as an all-round option.
Injuries have already disrupted India’s plans even before the series began. On the eve of the opener, Rishabh Pant suffered a blow while batting against throw-down specialists and was subsequently ruled out of the ODIs. His absence led to the inclusion of Dhruv Jurel, who remains an option should the team management opt for a specialist batter.
While replacements are available, India’s white-ball setup would be keen to avoid further setbacks with the T20 World Cup less than a month away. Although the T20 squad will feature a different batting combination, several players overlap between the two formats. One such key name, all-rounder Tilak Varma, is already sidelined for at least the first three T20Is against New Zealand due to a groin injury.
For now, however, the focus remains firmly on the ongoing ODI series, which has been headlined by two stalwarts nearing the twilight of their international careers. Kohli and Rohit Sharma appear to be relishing this phase, playing with freedom and authority.
Kohli narrowly missed out on a 54th ODI century in the opening match, but his fluent 93 off 91 balls laid the foundation for India’s successful chase, even as a brief middle-order wobble created some tense moments.
Those moments are unlikely to trouble the Indian think-tank, especially given the gulf between the two sides, with New Zealand also arriving with a depleted squad. Captain Shubman Gill contributed a composed half-century in the opener, while vice-captain Shreyas Iyer fell just one shy of a fifty. A strong collective batting effort, led by Rohit’s typically aggressive intent at the top, suggests India will once again look to dominate.
Kohli, in particular, seems to be batting with rare clarity and confidence, carrying the same intensity from the nets into match situations. Free from the weight of expectation and criticism, he has added new dimensions to his game, attacking from the outset and refusing to leave runs on the field. That approach was evident in Vadodara, where he became the fastest batter to reach 28,000 international runs.
Despite the batting riches, India will be seeking improvement in their bowling, especially from the spinners, who struggled for grip and turn on the Vadodara surface. It was the fast bowlers’ ability to vary pace that eventually fetched breakthroughs in the latter stages, and the spinners will hope for more assistance from the pitch at the Niranjan Shah Stadium.
New Zealand, meanwhile, can draw encouragement from the way they pushed India in the series opener despite Kohli’s briliance. During India’s chase of 301, the equation remained around a run a ball for much of the innings before Kyle Jamieson’s three-wicket burst, on his way to figures of 4 for 41, briefly swung momentum.
The visitors ultimately paid the price for a few dropped chances late in the game. Earlier, a commanding 117-run opening stand between left handers Devon Conway and Henry Nicholls had provided the perfect platform, which the middle order failed to fully capitalise on. World No. 3 Daryl Mitchell’s aggressive 84 ensured New Zealand posted a competitive total, while late contributions from Mitchell Hay and Kristian Clarke offered further positives. As the Kiwis head into the second ODI, the visitors will also be hoping that rookie leg-spinner Adithya Ashok delivers a stronger showing in Rajkot.
Squads:
India: Shubman Gill (c), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer (subject to fitness clearance), Ayush Badoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal
New Zealand: Michael Bracewell (c), Adi Ashok, Kristian Clarke, Josh Clarkson, Devon Conway, Zak Foulkes, Mitch Hay, Kyle Jamieson, Nick Kelly, Jayden Lennox, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Michael Rae, Will Young