In a surprising flip of occasions on the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot, the second ODI of the New Zealand tour of India on Wednesday, noticed a dramatic top-order collapse that left the house crowd in a state of disbelief. After securing a slender victory within the sequence opener at Vadodara, India entered this day-night conflict with the purpose of clinching the sequence. Nevertheless, the guests had totally different plans, dismantling the world-renowned Indian batting engine with disciplined, high-quality tempo and spin.
Early collapse rattles India in opposition to New Zealand in Rajkot
New Zealand captain Michael Bracewell made a daring resolution to subject first, a transfer that originally appeared questionable as India’s openers, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, navigated the primary 10 overs with relative ease. The pair introduced up the 50-run mark in simply 8.4 overs, enjoying some beautiful drives that signalled one other high-scoring day in Rajkot.
The tide turned within the thirteenth over when Kristian Clarke induced a uncommon error from Rohit. The Hitman, trying to clear mid-off, sliced a cross-seam supply to Will Younger at sweeper cowl, departing for twenty-four. Whereas captain Gill continued his superb type to succeed in a fluent 56 off 53 balls, his dismissal within the seventeenth over by Kyle Jamieson triggered the actual panic. India went from a cushty 99/1 to a precarious 118/4 in just below seven overs.
The most important blow to the Indian camp was the departure of Virat Kohli. Having not too long ago surpassed Kumar Sangakkara to develop into the second-highest run-scorer in worldwide historical past, Kohli regarded set to anchor the innings. As an alternative, he was shocked by a slower supply from Clarke, dragging the ball onto his stumps for 23. Shortly earlier than, Shreyas Iyer fell for 8, chipping a catch to Bracewell, leaving the center order uncovered and the run fee plummeting.
Followers shocked as India struggles for momentum in 2nd ODI
The response on social media and within the stands was one in every of collective anxiousness. Followers, who had anticipated the Rajkot floor to be a “flat monitor” paradise, watched in silence because the boundaries dried up. Following the flurry of wickets, India went by means of a grueling interval of 63 balls and not using a single boundary, highlighting the stranglehold New Zealand’s bowlers—significantly Jayden Lennox and Bracewell—had over the sport.
By the thirtieth over, India stood at 142/4, with KL Rahul (13*) and Ravindra Jadeja (11*) trying to piece collectively a shattered innings. The scorecard advised a story of two halves:
- Powerplay 1: 57/0 (India in management)
- The Squeeze (Overs 21–30): Solely 20 runs for the lack of 2 wickets.
The absence of Washington Sundar (dominated out because of a rib damage) meant Nitish Kumar Reddy was drafted in, however the burden fell squarely on the shoulders of Rahul and Jadeja. For New Zealand, Clarke emerged because the hero of the afternoon, boasting figures of three/37 in 6 overs. Because the match strikes into the ultimate twenty overs, India face a large uphill battle to put up a complete that may problem the disciplined Black Caps.
Additionally READ: Virat Kohli replaces Rohit Sharma because the No. 1 ODI batter; Travis Head makes massive leap in ICC Check rankings
Right here’s how followers reacted:
No hundred for Virat Kohli immediately 💔💔#ViratKohli #ViratKohli𓃵 #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/b1HcBTcwJq
— Saabir Zafar (@Saabir_Saabu01) January 14, 2026
What a Coincidence 😳😭
It jogs my memory nineteenth november
-Rohit sharma with similar shot bought out
-Shubman Gill with similar shot bought out
-Virat Kohli with similar shot bought out.Dejavu 😭💔#IndvNZ #IndvsNZ pic.twitter.com/gnNQ4I4dWj
— 🤍 (@diva_0387) January 14, 2026
#INDvNZ State of affairs is just like 2023 world cup closing (4 wickets down) and there’s a lot of speak that the group has modified their intent particularly KL Rahul. However in ineffective bilateral additionally KL Rahul and Jadeja are afraid to play their pictures. Let’s have a look at the place they end immediately.
— Subrato (@subrato312) January 14, 2026
19 november insanity throughout 🥀#INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/uYB3gfHfih
— Shreya.♥️ (@Here4VK18) January 14, 2026
bro what is that this match even
giving me nightmares already of 23 WC Closing💀> superior begin then rohit getting caught after lofting a shot over covers
> gill falls to a pull
> kohli appears good however chops on
> klr & jadeja zeherball
> all rounder injured and changed#INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/0NoXeADfwJ— Aish (@AishIdiot) January 14, 2026
“Kuch nahi bhai mid overs predominant Jadeja aur KL ki batting dekh rha hoon😶😶#INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/9luOz75tUc
— खटाना भाई (@CricwormAnna) January 14, 2026
#IndvNZ
The shortage of capability to play sweeps and reverse sweeps from Indian high order actually hurting their capability to attain. And to high that the degrade in capability to attain off spinners. Its actually on the market.
The NZ spin bowling had been good and sustained! @bhogleharsha— CitizenKunal (@kun8l) January 14, 2026
Kohli’s streak of fifty+ scores has ended 😐#INDvNZ #ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/RlfHpN1ABN
— Muhammad Yasir (@MuhammadYa85859) January 14, 2026
63 balls between two consecutive boundaries for India!
16.4 FOUR by Shubman Gill
27.1 FOUR by KL RahulOut of those 62 no-boundary deliveries,
Virat Kohli performed 18
Shreyas Iyer performed 17
Jadeja performed 14
Rahul performed 12
Gill performed 1#INDvNZ #ShubmanGill #ViratKohli— CricTrend (@CricTrend_CT) January 14, 2026
Virat Kohli’s followers after his dismissal #INDvNZ #ODIs pic.twitter.com/aHssEgF1VS
— Sarcasm (@sarcastic_us) January 14, 2026
India Deep hassle 🥲 #INDvNZ https://t.co/gWO1IbRUvk pic.twitter.com/cs0jl9eeF3
— premnath pk 😍♥️🦋🌹💜🍫 (@PremnathPk) January 14, 2026
Additionally READ: IND vs NZ: Who replaces injured Washington Sundar? Right here is India’s enjoying XI for the Rajkot ODI
