India vs New Zealand, 2nd ODI at Rajkot, Jan 14 2026 – Full Scorecard

India vs. New Zealand second ODI in Rajkot on January 14, 2026, was a cracker of a game! New Zealand ended up winning by seven wickets, thanks to Daryl Mitchell’s amazing 131 not out and Will Young’s solid 87. This not only tied the three-match series 1-1 but also became New Zealand’s biggest ODI run chase ever in India.

How the Pitch Played a Big Part

The pitch at Rajkot’s stadium was a bit slow and offered some grip in the afternoon, but it got faster under the lights. India batted first after losing the toss and had to grind it out because the ball wasn’t coming onto the bat nicely. However, New Zealand had an easier time later on with the ball coming onto the bat nicely, even though there wasn’t much dew. This favored them and they played smart aggressive shots.

KL Rahul’s Century Saves India to 284

KL Rahul was the star for India, scoring a fantastic 112 not out from 92 balls. He was patient and precise. Rohit Sharma struggled early on and got out for 24. Shubman Gill looked good for his 56, hitting some nice shots, including a six off Jamieson. However, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer were dismissed by Kristian Clarke (3 for 56 and proved important).

Scoring slowed down when Jadeja couldn’t get going and could only get 27, as Bracewell bowled tidy overs. Nitish Kumar Reddy chipped in with some useful runs, but Rahul upped the tempo late on, reaching his century with a six and getting India to 284 for 7. It felt like a defendable total, but didn’t feel like enough.

New Zealand’s Early Struggles and Comeback

While chasing 285, New Zealand lost Devon Conway and Henry Nicholls cheaply to some good bowling from Siraj, Harshit Rana, and Prasidh Krishna. With the score at 46 for 2, India had a sniff, and the seam movement was a positive sign. But Will Young and Daryl Mitchell kept calm, soaked up the pressure, and started to rebuild. Young played spin well, while Mitchell began to turn the game around with some great shots.

Daryl Mitchell’s Great Innings of 131

Daryl Mitchell’s 131 not out from 117 balls was the deciding act of the match. He went after Kuldeep Yadav, who is an amazing player, using the sweep shot and forcing India to defend. Mitchell picked his shots brilliantly, mixing power and placement, and his 162-run partnership with Will Young pretty much won the game.

Mitchell reached his century with some controlled hitting, and he found boundaries without taking unnecessary risks, which shows how good he is. It was his eighth ODI hundred, and this shows why he is known as the best middle-order batter in cricket.

Will Young’s 87 and Phillips Finishes the Job

Will Young played the perfect supporting role with his 87 off 98 balls. He was careful at first, rotating the strike, before hitting some lovely drives. Even after Young got out, Glenn Phillips made sure there were no hiccups, scoring 32 not out off 25 balls to wrap up the game with 15 balls remaining. New Zealand’s batting depth and confidence were clear to see.

How India Bowled and Captaincy Decisions

India’s fast bowlers bowled well initially, getting some movement and keeping the score down. However, they couldn’t take wickets with the old ball and Kuldeep Yadav’s expensive spell, where he went for 82 runs, turned the tide as Mitchell went after him. Jadeja bowled tightly but didn’t get any wickets, and India were exposed when they introduced spin at a vital time, enabling New Zealand to get on top.

New Zealand’s bowlers, especially Clarke and Bracewell, bowled tightly in the middle overs. Clarke bowled hard lengths and changed his pace, troubling India’s batters, while Bracewell kept things tight and did not allow any easy runs and forcing mistakes.

Pivotal Moments

Mitchell surviving a review in the 38th over was huge, as was Jadeja’s missed run-out chance. These little things mattered. India also dropped a catch, giving Mitchell another chance. In a high-scoring game, these moments often decide the result, and New Zealand took full advantage.

Talking Points

Many talked about Kuldeep Yadav’s plans-of-action against Mitchell. Some questioned his defensive approach after Mitchell showed pressure and suggested he went on the attack. They were also arguments about India’s middle order and not having Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel, there was a sense of India lost power which meant they couldn’t go beyond 300.

The pitch also became a discussion, the batting got easier under the light. Where fans were concerned about the toss, while others wanted India to change up their tactics. Including a close with a review which was an upholding decision.

What This Means

With New Zealand tying the series 1-1, the next match will be an amazing thriller. This win ended India’s eight-match winning streak and gave them the confidence for future tours. For India, this defeat shows what needs to be fixed, the middle-over runs and their bowling in the final stages.

Man of the Match, Daryl Mitchell

For his innings which consisted of technique and awareness. Daryl Mitchell was rightly named Player of the Match. He pushed India back and led his team to a comfortable win.

What Is Next

The next game in the series will be worth the wait. India will be looking to pick a strong team with good spin plans, while New Zealand will try to keep the party going by replicating their controlled approach. The game we saw has set things up which means the last game will come with action.

The India vs. New Zealand game will be remembered for Daryl Mitchell’s masterclass and New Zealand’s great run chase. KL Rahul’s century was a great one for India, The collection of players Mitchell, Young and Phillips made sure that the visitors came out on top. It created drama and good cricket which means the series final should be a classic.