Rain delayed the start of the India vs New Zealand 2nd ODI at Sky Stadium in Wellington on Saturday, 7 November. The toss was pushed back after a wet outfield, and ground staff worked with covers and super soppers to clear water from the playing area before play could begin.
The match was due to start at 7:30 AM IST, with the toss half an hour earlier. Heavy rain before the scheduled toss left the outfield wet, and the umpires called for a ground inspection. The revised toss was set for 8:00 AM IST, with play to begin at 8:30 AM IST, subject to a further check of the ground.
India lead the five-match series 1-0 heading into the India vs New Zealand 2nd ODI, after winning the rain-affected opening game in Auckland by five wickets under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method. New Zealand scored 185 in that match before India chased a revised target of 143 in 32 overs, after rain stopped play twice and cut the game short.
The weather has shaped the tour from the start. The first ODI in Auckland was interrupted twice by rain, and the start was held up by 10 minutes before India chased down the reduced target. Low-level drizzle in Wellington on Friday was enough to change both teams’ training plans, with New Zealand moving indoors to Wellington College and India cancelling their session altogether.
New Zealand batted first in Auckland and reached 185 before the rain came, and India’s chase was cut to 32 overs with a target of 143. The visitors won by five wickets, with the fast bowlers setting up the win by keeping New Zealand’s batters in check.
India vs New Zealand 2nd ODI and the Wellington weather
Forecasts for the India vs New Zealand 2nd ODI gave the match little room to breathe. AccuWeather put the chance of showers at 60 per cent in the first half of the day and 55 per cent in the second, with cloud cover through the match. Rain was expected around the scheduled start, and the forecast raised the chance of a stop-start game with overs lost and a revised target under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method.
The India vs New Zealand 2nd ODI is the second game of a five-match series, and both sides know the weather could decide how much cricket is possible. A shortened game would put the toss under more pressure, since the side batting second would know its target from the start. India will look to press home the advantage from Auckland, while New Zealand will want a full game to level the series.
India vs New Zealand 2nd ODI: the teams in Wellington
Shubman Gill leads India, with Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer in the batting order and KL Rahul keeping wicket. The squad for the first three matches also includes Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Anshul Kamboj, Gurnoor Brar, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Ishan Kishan, Kuldeep Yadav, Auqib Nabi, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Ruturaj Gaikwad. Mitchell Santner captains New Zealand. The likely Indian side has the same core that won in Auckland, with the pace attack again made up of young fast bowlers, and the final teams will be confirmed at the toss.
KL Rahul is back in the side as wicketkeeper for the India vs New Zealand 2nd ODI, and his place in the middle order gives India depth with the bat if the top order falls early in a shortened game. His keeping and his batting in the middle order will both matter if the match is cut short by the weather.
India vs New Zealand 2nd ODI and the series ahead
After Wellington, the series moves to Hamilton for the third ODI on 10 November, and the final two matches will be played at Mount Maunganui on 13 and 15 November. A win in the India vs New Zealand 2nd ODI would give India a 2-0 lead with three games left, while a New Zealand win would level the series at 1-1.
The toss for the India vs New Zealand 2nd ODI was delayed by rain at Sky Stadium, and the umpires will inspect the ground before play begins. The match will be shown on the Sony Sports Network and streamed on JioStar.