India Chooses to Bowl First in Wellington ODI Against New Zealand

In the second ODI in Wellington, Indian captain Shubman Gill won the toss and opted to bowl first against New Zealand. Following a rain delay, the match has been reduced to 47 overs per side. India leads the series 1-0 after a previous victory. New Zealand, looking to bounce back, faces a setback with Devon Conway ruled out due to a concussion. Both teams have announced their playing XI, setting the stage for an exciting match.

By Narendra Chaudhary Nov 7, 2026, 09:11 IST

India's Decision to Bowl First

In Wellington, Indian captain Shubman Gill has won the toss and decided to chase against New Zealand in the second ODI on Saturday. The match faced a rain delay of one hour, leading to a reduction in overs to 47 per side. With a 1-0 lead in the series, following a five-wicket win in the rain-affected first ODI in Auckland via the DLS method, India aims to maintain their momentum and move closer to clinching the five-match series.

New Zealand's Response and Squad Adjustments

New Zealand is eager to recover after their batting lineup struggled to set a competitive score in the series opener. The home team aims to leverage their conditions for a stronger performance to equalize the series. However, they face a challenge as Devon Conway has been ruled out for the remainder of the series due to a concussion sustained during practice. Nick Kelly has been brought in as his replacement.

Insights from the Captains at the Toss

"We will bowl first. No surprises, the conditions are overcast and the wicket was under covers. Yesterday's practice was called off because of rain, but we have prepared well and are in good spirits. Same team for us," Gill stated during the toss.

"It looks like a lovely day to bowl first, but we'll see how the wicket plays and aim to set a score. With rain around and the pitch being under covers, it should do a bit. We need to navigate the tricky period. We're excited, and after a nice rest, we’re ready. They’re a great side, winning the toss helps, but they’ve played well. Same team for us," commented New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner.

Team Lineups

Teams:

New Zealand (Playing XI): Will Young, Tim Seifert, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham(w), Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner(c), Nathan Smith, Kyle Jamieson, Jacob Duffy, Blair Tickner.

India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill(c), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul(w), Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Anshul Kamboj, Auqib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar, Arshdeep Singh.