India vs New Zealand 2nd ODI is a match of two moods. One side has momentum. The other has questions. Add Wellington’s famous wind and a cloudy sky. This ground never makes cricket easy. Saturday morning in India could be a real test of nerve.
India vs New Zealand 2nd ODI Preview
- Match: New Zealand vs India, 2nd ODI
- Venue: Hnry Stadium, Wellington
- Date: Saturday, November 7, 2026
- Start time: 7:30 AM IST, 3:00 PM local time
- Series: India lead 1 to 0 in a five match series
- Broadcast in India: Sony Sports Network
How India Won the First ODI
India won the opener in Auckland by five wickets. The result came under the DLS method. They had 56 balls to spare.
Shubman Gill chose to bowl first. India’s pace group did the rest. Arshdeep Singh took 4 for 70. Gurnoor Brar took 3 for 44. Anshul Kamboj added 2 for 22. New Zealand were bowled out for 185 in 40.2 overs. Tim Seifert top scored with 38. Blair Tickner hit 34 off 23 balls with four sixes.
Rain then cut India’s innings to 32 overs. Virat Kohli made 74 off 51 balls. It was his 80th ODI fifty. He reached it off just 35 balls. India finished on 143 for 5 in 22.4 overs. Naman Dhir hit the winning runs.
Team News and Probable XIs
India’s top four look settled. Rohit Sharma had a rough day in Auckland. He fell for a six ball duck to Kyle Jamieson. He is still expected to play.
Mohammed Siraj is tipped to return. Axar Patel is likely to be the lone spinner. Prasidh Krishna is out injured. Nitish Kumar Reddy was only in the squad for the first ODI.
India probable XI: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (c), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wk), Naman Dhir, Anshul Kamboj, Gurnoor Brar, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj.
New Zealand have home comfort. They need more from their top order. Finn Allen does not join the squad until ODIs four and five.
New Zealand probable XI: Will Young, Tim Seifert, Henry Nicholls, Tom Latham (wk), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Kyle Jamieson, Blair Tickner, Jacob Duffy.
Pitch Report: Hnry Stadium, Wellington
Wellington is a balanced ground. Seamers get bounce and carry early. Cloudy skies can add movement with the new ball. The surface tends to flatten out later. Strokes flow once batters get set.
The first innings average is around 232 to 234. The second innings average is about 206. Teams batting first and teams chasing have both won here.
Wind is the real wildcard. It can change how the boundaries play. New Zealand have won one and lost two of their three ODIs against India at Wellington Regional Stadium.
Weather Report
Saturday brings a 30 percent chance of rain. The high is around 17 degrees Celsius. The low is near 14 degrees. It is cloudy in Wellington right now.
Rain interrupted the first ODI twice. Another delay would not surprise anyone. Check the forecast on match morning. It can change fast.
Key Players to Watch
Virat Kohli (India)
Kohli looked in full flow in Auckland. He pulled and drove on the up. He made 74 off 51. He has 55 ODI centuries and more than 15,000 ODI runs.
New Zealand’s pacers will test him with short balls again. He fell to one in Auckland.
Arshdeep Singh (India)
Arshdeep took four wickets in the opener. He now leads an attack full of fresh faces. Brar and Kamboj gave him strong support. Another early breakthrough would put India in control.
Tim Seifert (New Zealand)
Seifert top scored with 38 in Auckland. Days earlier, he hit 93 in the fifth T20I in Hamilton. His form has turned. He starts fast and puts bowlers under pressure.
Daryl Mitchell (New Zealand)
Mitchell is New Zealand’s biggest batting threat. He made 28 in Auckland. Then Rohit Sharma’s direct hit ran him out. A longer stay on Saturday could change the game.
Gill’s Captaincy and the Bigger Picture
Shubman Gill captains the first three ODIs. Shreyas Iyer leads the last two. Gill’s start is encouraging. Our list of the top 10 Indian cricket captains of all time shows how high the bar is.
This series is part of the 2027 World Cup build up. Kohli has said it will be his last World Cup. Every game is a selection clue. Our ICC Cricket World Cup 2027 guide has the full picture.
Win Prediction
India enter with form and a lead. Their pace group looked sharp. Kohli looks ready for another big chase. New Zealand know Wellington well. A better top order display could change this match.
India win probability: 60 percent
New Zealand win probability: 40 percent
Conclusion
India lead 1 to 0. New Zealand need answers fast. The India vs New Zealand 2nd ODI at Wellington brings wind, cloud and a lively pitch. India have Kohli in form and a young pace attack. New Zealand have home comfort and Seifert’s confidence. Saturday at 7:30 AM IST decides whether the series swings or slips away.
