Overview:
The Rajkot pitch is known for being flat, hard, and extremely batter friendly. The surface offers true bounce.
India head to Rajkot with confidence after pulling off a tense run chase in the opening ODI. Chasing 300, they were cruising early before a sudden middle order collapse brought New Zealand back into the contest. Despite the wobble, the lower middle order held its nerve and sealed the match with one over to spare, giving India a 1 to 0 lead in the series.
The only setback from that win was Washington Sundar suffering a back injury that ruled him out of the rest of the series. His replacement is Ayush Badoni, who has impressed for both Lucknow Super Giants and Delhi in domestic and franchise cricket. With momentum on their side, India arrive in Saurashtra knowing a victory here will clinch the series. Against a depleted New Zealand squad missing several first choice players, the hosts will see Rajkot as a prime opportunity to assert dominance and close the series early.
India Squad for ODI Series vs New Zealand
Shubman Gill (c), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wk), Shreyas Iyer (vc), Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ayush Badoni
New Zealand Squad for ODI Series vs India
Michael Bracewell (c), Adi Ashok, Kristian Clarke, Josh Clarkson, Devon Conway (wk), Zak Foulkes, Mitch Hay (wk), Kyle Jamieson, Nick Kelly, Jayden Lennox, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Michael Rae, Will Young
India Probable XI for the 2nd ODI vs New Zealand
Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (c), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ayush Badoni, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.
New Zealand Probable XI for the 2nd ODI vs India
Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Mitch Hay (wk), Michael Bracewell (c), Glenn Phillips, Zak Foulkes, Kyle Jamieson, Kristian Clarke, Adithya Ashok.
Niranjan Shah Stadium Rajkot Key Details
Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot is the home of the Saurashtra Cricket Association and has been a regular host for international cricket since opening in 2008. Earlier known as the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium or Khandheri Stadium, the venue has steadily built a reputation for producing high scoring matches across formats. It currently holds around 28,000 spectators, with expansion plans in place to raise capacity to 40,000 in the coming years.
The ground features a fast outfield, short square boundaries, and excellent lighting, making it ideal for limited overs cricket. Over the years, it has hosted several high profile international fixtures and franchise games, with batters enjoying the conditions more than bowlers. The combination of crowd energy and batting friendly conditions makes Rajkot one of the most entertaining venues on the Indian cricket calendar.
What Is the Pitch Like at Niranjan Shah Stadium Rajkot?
The Rajkot pitch is known for being flat, hard, and extremely batter friendly. The surface offers true bounce and even carry, allowing players to play through the line without fear of uneven movement. This makes strokeplay easier and encourages teams to go after the bowling from the very start of an innings.
Teams batting first have traditionally enjoyed a major advantage here, as the pitch is at its best early in the game. As the match progresses, the surface slows slightly and spinners begin to get some grip, but it rarely becomes difficult for batting. Fast bowlers must rely on variations such as cutters and slower balls rather than pace alone. Because chasing becomes harder as the pitch wears, captains almost always prefer to bat first after winning the toss at this venue.
Key Stats at Niranjan Shah Stadium Rajkot
Rajkot has hosted 4 ODI matches, and all 4 have been won by the team batting first. A total of 2,445 runs have been scored from 2,393 balls, giving an average match total of 611.25 runs and a strike rate of 102.1. The highest ODI total at the venue is 352, while the lowest is 252, which shows how consistently high scoring this ground is.
There have been 3 scores between 250 and 299, 4 between 300 and 349, and 1 score above 350, with no team ever being dismissed for under 250. The ground has produced 274 boundaries, including 45 sixes and 229 fours, confirming how small margins are for bowlers at this venue.
Bowlers have taken 70 wickets here at an average of 41.44, with most dismissals coming through catches, showing that containment is more important than raw aggression.
IND vs NZ: Weather Forecast Will Rain Play a Role?
The weather in Rajkot for the 2nd ODI looks perfect for cricket. Rain is not expected, with precipitation forecast at 0 percent, ensuring a full 50 over contest without interruptions. Clear skies mean the pitch will remain dry and hard, which further enhances its batting friendly nature.
Humidity is expected to stay around 29 percent, which is relatively low and comfortable for players. These conditions will not assist swing bowlers, meaning the ball is unlikely to move much through the air. A light breeze of around 11 km per hour may provide minor relief from the heat but will not influence play. Overall, weather conditions strongly favor batters and point toward another high scoring match in Rajkot.
India vs New Zealand: Pitch Advantage for Which Side?
The Rajkot pitch clearly suits India more than New Zealand. Indian batters such as Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and Shreyas Iyer thrive on flat surfaces where timing is rewarded. With short boundaries and a fast outfield, India have the firepower to post a massive total if they bat first.
New Zealand have capable batters like Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell, but their bowling attack lacks experience, especially on subcontinent pitches. Without consistent early movement, their seamers could struggle to contain India. Indias spinners also become more effective as the pitch slows, giving the hosts an additional edge in the second innings. Overall, Rajkot conditions strongly favor Indias balanced and powerful lineup.
FAQs: Niranjan Shah Stadium Rajkot
What is the pitch report for Niranjan Shah Stadium Rajkot?
The pitch is flat with good bounce and pace, making it highly favorable for batting. High scores are common, especially for teams batting first.
What are India and New Zealand’s records at Niranjan Shah Stadium Rajkot?
India have played 4 ODIs here and won only 1, losing the most recent match in 2023 against Australia by 66 runs. New Zealand have played 1 T20I at this venue and won it comfortably against India by 40 runs in 2017.