Match overview
New Zealand Cricket beat India Cricket by 7 wickets at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot on 14 January 2026. India posted 284/7, a competitive total anchored by KL Rahul's unbeaten 112 off 92 balls. New Zealand then chased the target down with an over to spare, finishing on 286/3. DJ Mitchell's 131 not out off 117 balls was the decisive contribution. It was only the second ODI played at this ground, and New Zealand's chase was meticulous from the moment Mitchell and Will Young built their partnership through the middle overs.
The match turned decisively in overs 11 to 40. New Zealand scored 193 runs in that phase for the loss of just 2 wickets, which reduced the equation to a simple formality at the death. India picked up 3 wickets across the whole innings, with KDC Clarke, bowling for New Zealand in the first innings, the most economical of the attack with 3/56 in 8 overs.
For India, there were positives. Shubman Gill made 56 off 53 balls at the top of the order, and Rahul's century meant the scorecard was respectable. But the middle order lost 5 wickets for 142 runs between overs 11 and 40 in the batting phase, which put the burden firmly on Rahul. He delivered; the rest of the order didn't quite match him.
Venue and conditions
The Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot hosted only its second ODI with this fixture. The sample size is limited, but what this match showed is that the surface offers good pace for batters throughout the day. India's powerplay of 57/0 and New Zealand's first-over-to-death scoring rate both point to a true, consistent pitch rather than one that changed character significantly under lights or as the game aged.
The venue's average first-innings score stands at 284 and average second-innings score at 286, both drawn directly from this single match. The chase success rate is 100% from one game. Those numbers carry no predictive weight on their own, but they do confirm that batting second was not a disadvantage here. The toss winner chose to field, and that decision paid off. Average powerplay runs across the match were 46, though both sides' powerplays diverged noticeably: India's batters scored at a higher rate early, while New Zealand were more conservative and lost a wicket, making their eventual dominance in the middle phase all the more impressive.
The death overs told a similar story. India took 85 runs for 2 wickets in their final ten overs. New Zealand needed only 59 runs for no wickets in theirs, suggesting they had enough in hand to play out the last phase without risk.
How to watch
India and New Zealand ODI cricket is broadcast in the UK on Sky Sports Cricket, with live streaming available through Sky Go and NOW TV. International fixtures on the subcontinent typically begin in the morning UK time, so check the broadcast schedule for any further matches in this series. Sky Sports' digital platforms also carry ball-by-ball commentary for those who cannot watch the full broadcast.
Recent form
India came into this game having won four of their five most recent ODIs, including the two previous matches in this series against New Zealand in 2026. Both those wins were convincing, by 96 runs and 46 runs respectively, and India had also gone unbeaten through a four-match series against South Africa in 2025, losing only once in their last five outings.
New Zealand had mixed recent form. Their most recent result before this match was a 50-run defeat to India in Vizag, though they had previously beaten the West Indies three times in succession in 2025, with one no result. Their batting line-up had shown its depth in those wins, and Mitchell and Young's performance in Rajkot confirmed that New Zealand remain dangerous chasers when conditions suit. With this result, the series picture shifts, and the next match between these sides carries considerably more weight.
