 "Members of the New Zealand cricket team take part in a training session at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot ahead of the second ODI on Wednesday, 14 January. PTI")
India were off to a winning start in 2026, beating New Zealand by four wickets with an over to spare after being set 301 to win at Vadodara’s Kotambi Stadium on Sunday. The two teams meet again three days later in Rajkot , where the Shubman Gill-led Men in Blue will be aiming to seal the three-match series with a game to spare.
Check out the live score & updates for India vs New Zealand, 2nd ODI
The Black Caps, however, did fight hard despite missing several key players including star batter Kane Williamson with Kyle Jamieson’s three-wicket burst bringing his side back into the contest and ensuring the match down the wire in the end .
And on Wednesday, the Michael Bracewell-led side will be hoping to finish on the right side of the result and ensure the series stays alive until Sunday, when the two sides face off in the third and final one-dayer in Indore.
Before the second ODI gets underway, we take a look at what’s in store as far as the pitch and weather at Rajkot are concerned.
What is the weather expected to be like in Rajkot?
Unlike other parts of the country, especially the north, the weather in Rajkot is relatively pleasant. “Plenty of sunshine,” reads Wednesday’s forecast for the city on Accuweather, with a maximum and minimum temperature of 27 and 13 degrees respectively.
It is expected to hover around the 25-degree mark around the time the match gets underway at 1.30 pm, and isn’t likely to drop below the 20-degree mark before the conclusion of the contest. Couldn’t have asked for more pleasant weather for a match.
Quick Reads
View AllAs for its impact on the game, dew wasn’t much of a factor in Vadodara and isn’t likely to affect bowlers under lights at Rajkot either. The pitch, however, did quicken up back then, and it remains to be seen if that’s also the case here.
What is the pitch at the Niranjan Shah Stadium expected to be like?
The pitch at the Niranjan Shah Stadium is generally regarded as good for batting which offers true bounce and carry. The highest total at this venue is 352 and no team has been dismissed below 250 in the ODIs that have taken place at this venue. Expect something similar in the second showdown between India and New Zealand on Wednesday.