India vs New Zealand (IND vs NZ) 2nd ODI, Rajkot — Live Match Report With Current Status
India and New Zealand’s ODI rivalry rarely needs extra drama, but the 2nd ODI at the Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot (January 14, 2026) has delivered exactly that: momentum swings, a headline-making century from KL Rahul, and a chase that has stayed alive deep into the final stretch thanks largely to Daryl Mitchell’s hundred and calm middle-overs control.
This is a match that has felt like two games stitched together: India clawing their way to a competitive total after losing wickets, and New Zealand responding with controlled aggression, absorbing India’s new-ball threat before building a platform for a tense finish.
✅ Current status (at the time of writing)
As per the latest live score update available, India made 284/7 (50 overs) and New Zealand are 231/3 in 40.5 overs, chasing 285.
That leaves New Zealand needing 54 runs in 55 balls.
So, we’re in that high-pressure zone: one wicket can flip the script, but one big over can end the contest.
Why today’s IND vs NZ match feels bigger than “just another ODI”
ODIs in 2026 are being played under a new kind of spotlight. T20 leagues dominate attention, Tests keep purists loyal, but ODIs are fighting for relevance by becoming more “result-oriented” and narrative-driven: you must have stars, you must have turning points, and you must have a chase worth watching.
This Rajkot ODI has ticked those boxes:
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A wicketkeeper-batter (Rahul) stepping up under pressure and creating a record moment.
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India’s top order showing flashes, but not fully owning the innings—forcing the middle order to fight. (Rahul and Jadeja stand out as the stabilizers.)
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New Zealand, as they often do, keeping the chase in reach with measured batting—then pushing hard in the back end with a set batter going big (Mitchell’s century).
In short: this isn’t just numbers on a scoreboard; it’s a match shaped by temperament.
Venue and conditions: Rajkot’s “deceptive” ODI surface
Rajkot often produces good batting conditions, but the key detail in this game has been how the pitch has not played like a total highway throughout. Early on, batting looked doable, but boundaries didn’t come in a flood for long periods—forcing batters to manufacture runs rather than simply swing.
This is where India’s innings becomes important. A total of 284/7 is neither a “safe 330” nor a “chase of 250.” It sits in that uncomfortable band where both sides can claim they’re in the game—depending on how they bowl, field, and handle pressure.
India’s innings: 284/7 — KL Rahul’s rescue act and a record century
India’s total of 284/7 was built more through recovery than domination. The defining feature was that KL Rahul remained unbeaten for his century, guiding India through the difficult phases and ensuring the innings didn’t collapse into a sub-260 score.
Rahul’s innings: more than “just a hundred”
A hundred can mean different things:
Rahul’s hundred in Rajkot fits the second category. New Zealand’s bowling and field placements forced him to be selective. He didn’t play like a batter chasing personal milestones; he played like a batter protecting India’s innings structure.
And historically, this was not just another century:
That’s why the innings instantly became “news,” not just “score.”
Middle overs: where India were tested
New Zealand did what they do well in ODIs: slow the game down without allowing it to stagnate into freebies. India’s scoring rate went through a period where boundaries dried up, and dot balls built pressure.
At one stage in the innings, commentary notes:
The Jadeja factor: stability as a batting partner
While Rahul carried the main narrative, India’s ability to reach 284 owed something to partnerships and steady support—particularly during the “rebuild” section of the innings. NDTV’s live feed highlights a period where Rahul and Jadeja were together, and also records Jadeja’s dismissal as a key wicket for New Zealand.
What India might be thinking: “We’re 20 runs short”
If you’re India, 284 is competitive but not comfortable. In modern ODIs, totals that sit under 290 can be chased if the chasing side keeps wickets in hand—and New Zealand are a team built for exactly that kind of pursuit.
India’s bowlers, therefore, needed two things:
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Early wickets (to force new batters to face movement and pressure), and
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Middle-over control (to prevent a chase from becoming a cruise).
New Zealand’s chase: strong platform, Mitchell’s century, and the match on a knife-edge
The chase has been defined by New Zealand’s ability to “stay on script.” Even when India’s bowlers struck, New Zealand didn’t panic. Instead, they focused on keeping the required rate manageable—until the time came to press.
Early moments: India do strike, but NZ don’t crumble
From NDTV’s live updates:
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Devon Conway was bowled early (a big wicket because Conway can dominate powerplays).
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Later, Henry Nicholls was out (another important top-order wicket).
Those wickets matter, because if India had removed the top three quickly, the chase could have looked fragile. But New Zealand’s response was disciplined: they didn’t throw wickets away trying to “catch up” instantly.
Daryl Mitchell: the innings that changes the chase’s mood
The key name is Daryl Mitchell—who has registered a century in this chase.
A Mitchell hundred in a chase typically has a pattern:
That’s exactly why a set Mitchell becomes such a threat. He doesn’t just score; he reduces chaos for the batter at the other end. And in chases around 280–300, chaos control often decides who wins.
Even NDTV’s live feed earlier in the chase shows Mitchell already sweeping for boundaries and controlling scoring options—an indicator of how settled he looked.
Live equation: why “54 off 55” is still dangerous
According to Cricbuzz, New Zealand’s chase sits at:
That’s basically run-a-ball, with wickets in hand. From New Zealand’s viewpoint, this is the ideal chase position: you can attempt one boundary over, rotate for 4–5 singles, and the pressure stays on the bowling side.
From India’s viewpoint, this is where you need:
Turning points so far: where the match tilted
1) Rahul surviving and converting
If Rahul had fallen around 60–70, India might have ended around 255–265. That would have made New Zealand clear favourites. His conversion to a hundred—and staying unbeaten—kept India in a defendable zone.
2) New Zealand’s calm after losing Conway
Conway’s wicket could have invited an aggressive response from India, but New Zealand prevented the “double-wicket squeeze” that often decides chases.
3) Mitchell becoming “set” before the last 12 overs
ODIs are often decided by whether your best batter is still there at the end. Mitchell being deep into the chase with a hundred means India must now manufacture dismissals rather than wait for errors.
What India need from here (the bowling plan)
With the equation at 54 off 55, India can’t just defend singles; they must hunt wickets. But wicket-hunting brings risk: mistimed yorkers become full-tosses, slower balls become sit-up deliveries, and boundary options open.
A realistic plan looks like this:
1) Attack the stumps, force straight hits
Mitchell is strong square of the wicket and through midwicket. India’s best chance is to cramp him for room and make him hit straight—where mis-hits travel less and catching becomes possible.
2) Make the non-set batter take responsibility
If Mitchell is the set player (and he is), India will want to bowl “riskless” balls to him but pressure the partner to take chances. In a run-a-ball chase, you can often win by making the less set batter attempt the big shots.
3) Save one over of your best death bowler for the last 3 overs
If India can push the equation to something like 35 off 18, the pressure flips again. But if New Zealand reach 25 off 18 with wickets in hand, the match likely ends quickly.
What New Zealand need from here (the finishing plan)
New Zealand are traditionally good chasers because they rarely overcomplicate. The finish from 54 off 55 is straightforward:
1) One boundary per over keeps you ahead
If you score 8–9 per over for the next 4 overs, you can bring it down to ~20 needed off the last 3. That kills pressure.
2) Don’t gift a wicket after a boundary
The common chase mistake is: boundary, then ego-shot next ball. A set batter like Mitchell will likely look to keep the strike and avoid that trap.
3) Force India to bowl defensive fields
If New Zealand keep finding gaps, India will spread fielders, which opens singles everywhere. That’s how chases become “inevitable.”
Big individual headlines around the game
Beyond the live match situation, today’s game has produced major headline material:
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KL Rahul’s century: first Indian wicketkeeper-batter with an ODI hundred vs New Zealand, and also a venue-related milestone (as reported).
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Virat Kohli milestone: Times of India reports Kohli surpassed Sachin Tendulkar to become India’s highest ODI run-scorer against New Zealand.
These are the kinds of milestones that turn a regular match report into a “shareable” sports story.
What this means for the series (and why the next hour matters)
This is the 2nd ODI of the series, and the result here shapes everything:
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If India win, they go ahead with confidence and likely control the series narrative.
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If New Zealand win, the series energy changes completely—suddenly the decider becomes a high-pressure finale rather than a formality.
That’s why the current match phase feels so tense: it’s not only about one chase; it’s about who walks into the next ODI with momentum, belief, and public backing.
Conclusion: match poised, but New Zealand slightly ahead on live equation
With New Zealand needing 54 off 55 and only 3 wickets down, the chase is positioned in their favour—but not sealed.
India’s only true route back is a wicket (or two) in quick succession. Without that, New Zealand can keep the chase “boring” in the most dangerous way: singles, strike rotation, and one boundary over.
This is the point where captains earn their reputations:
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bowlers must execute under stress,
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batters must resist the temptation to finish too early,
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and fielders must produce one moment of brilliance.
Whatever happens, this Rajkot ODI is already a story: a Rahul rescue, a Mitchell masterclass, and a finish that’s close enough to keep everyone watching.
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