Rajkot, India – January 14, 2026 – In a thrilling encounter at the Niranjan Shah Stadium, New Zealand staged a spectacular chase to defeat India by seven wickets in the second One-Day International, leveling the three-match series 1-1. This victory marked New Zealand’s highest-ever ODI chase against India in India, a testament to their resilience and stellar performances, particularly from Daryl Mitchell and Will Young.

Kiwis Conquer Rajkot with Record-Breaking Chase

Chasing a challenging target of 285, the Blackcaps showcased remarkable composure and power-hitting. The cornerstone of their pursuit was a magnificent, unbeaten 131 from Daryl Mitchell, who has firmly cemented his ‘Mr. Consistent’ tag with another impactful knock. Mitchell, who reached his century off just 96 balls, anchored the chase brilliantly, displaying a blend of aggression and intelligent stroke play. His last six ODI scores of ’78*, 56*, 44, 119, 84, 101*’ highlight his incredible form and ability to perform under pressure. This century, coming at a crucial juncture with the series on the line, underscored his value to the New Zealand setup.

Mitchell found an exceptional partner in Will Young, who, despite what the live updates described as ‘a struggle’ for his first fifty in 12 innings, delivered a vital 87 off 98 balls. Their colossal 162-run partnership for the third wicket completely turned the tide, neutralizing the threat posed by the Indian bowlers and steadily reducing the asking rate. Young’s ability to ‘keep his cool in this chase’ allowed Mitchell the freedom to express himself, a classic example of how complementary batting can dictate the outcome of a match.

While India’s new ball bowlers, Mohammed Siraj and Harshit Rana, had managed to peg New Zealand back initially with tight overs and crucial wickets – Harshit Rana flattening Devon Conway’s off-stump for 16 and Prasidh Krishna getting Henry Nicholls for 10 – the Kiwis quickly recovered. The early breakthroughs, which left New Zealand at ’46/2 (12.4)’, could have derailed a lesser side. However, Mitchell and Young navigated the middle overs with increasing confidence, taking advantage of anything ‘short and wide off the mark’ and showing respect to the ‘good balls’. Glenn Phillips then provided the finishing touches with an unbeaten 32, ensuring a comfortable seven-wicket victory with 2.3 overs to spare.

India’s Innings: Rahul’s Century Amidst Middle-Order Wobbles

Earlier in the day, India posted a competitive total of 284 for 7, propelled by a sublime, unbeaten century from KL Rahul. Rahul’s 112 off just 92 balls was his eighth century in the format and achieved two significant milestones: he became the first Indian wicketkeeper-batter to score a century against New Zealand in ODIs and the first Indian to score an ODI century in Rajkot. His knock was a masterclass in pacing an innings, especially after India lost momentum in the middle overs.

Captain Shubman Gill contributed a solid half-century, scoring 56 off 53 balls, reaching his 18th ODI fifty. His early aggression, including ‘a couple more for Gill as Clarke concedes 12 off his first over’, provided India with a strong platform. However, the innings saw some key wickets fall at crucial junctures. Virat Kohli, who earlier went past Sachin Tendulkar for most runs against New Zealand in ODIs (1751 in 35 innings compared to Tendulkar’s 1750 in 41), was dismissed for 23 by Kristian Clarke. This was a significant moment, not just for the wicket but also as it broke Kohli’s streak of five successive fifty-plus scores, preventing him from becoming the first Indian batter with six. Shreyas Iyer, who was ‘on the verge of surpassing Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli to claim a sensational record’ for the fastest 3000 ODI runs, fell cheaply for 8, also to Clarke. These dismissals brought ‘incredible amount of pressure’ on the Indian middle order.

Ravindra Jadeja’s 27 off 44 balls and debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy’s quickfire 20 off 21 balls, including ‘a wallop it over cow corner’, ensured India reached a respectable total. However, the collective effort wasn’t enough against a determined New Zealand side.

Bowling Dynamics and Tactical Battles

New Zealand’s bowling effort was spearheaded by Kristian Clarke, who was the pick of the bowlers with impressive figures of 3/56, claiming the crucial wickets of Kohli and Iyer. Debutant left-arm spinner Jayden Lennox also made an immediate impact, bagging 1/42, including the wicket of Harshit Rana. Kyle Jamieson (getting Gill) and Michael Bracewell (claiming Jadeja) also chipped in with vital wickets, collectively putting pressure on the Indian batters.

For India, the bowling struggled to make inroads after the initial breakthroughs. The spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja went wicketless, with Kuldeep notably having a ‘disappointing’ outing, conceding ‘0/41 from his first five overs’. This lack of penetration from the spinners, especially considering ‘how Bracewell and Lennox bowled during the first innings’, was a critical factor in New Zealand’s successful chase. Prasidh Krishna, who got Nicholls, and Harshit Rana, who dismissed Conway, provided the only successes. The ‘pace bowling dilemma’ for India continues to be a point of discussion, with Prasidh Krishna’s overall performance under scrutiny.

Adding a touch of drama, umpire Richard Illingworth reportedly had a word with New Zealand captain Michael Bracewell regarding his habit of throwing the ball onto the used pitch, a practice that ‘catalyses the process to get the ball older’. Meanwhile, former New Zealand pacer Simon Doull expressed his disapproval of New Zealand’s decision to bowl first, stating, ‘I am not happy with the call. I think New Zealand should’ve made the most of it and must’ve batted first.’ His critique, however, ultimately proved unfounded given the chase’s success.

Looking Ahead to the Series Decider in Indore

With the series now locked at 1-1, all eyes turn to the series decider in Indore on Sunday. India will need to re-evaluate their bowling strategies, particularly how to extract more from their spinners and find a consistent third pacer. The middle-order batting also requires greater stability to capitalize on strong starts. The debate around team selection, notably between ‘Ayush Badoni and Nitish Kumar Reddy’ in the absence of Washington Sundar, was addressed with Reddy’s inclusion, but the wider implications of selection calls, as criticised by Kris Srikkanth regarding Gautam Gambhir’s influence, will remain topics of discussion.

New Zealand, buoyed by this historic chase, will carry immense confidence into the final match. Their batting unit, led by Mitchell and Young, has shown they can thrive in Indian conditions. The series is set for a thrilling climax, promising another captivating contest between these two cricketing powerhouses.

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