What is India’s record at Rajkot in ODIs?

India are set to face New Zealand in the second ODI of the ongoing three-match series on Wednesday, January 14, at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot. The Men in Blue currently lead the series 1-0 after securing a four-wicket victory in the opening encounter at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara to gain an early advantage in the series.

The Indian batting unit looks well settled heading into the Rajkot encounter. Senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have led from the front, while contributions from the middle order have ensured stability when required. However, the bowling department remains an area of concern, as Indian bowlers have leaked runs consistently, allowing opposition batters to score freely in the middle and death overs.

Talking about India’s ODI record at Rajkot, it has been a challenging venue for the hosts historically. India have played four ODIs at this ground so far, managing to win only one while losing the other three. Their sole victory came against Australia in 2020 when they won by 36 runs. The defeats include matches against England in 2013, South Africa in 2015, and Australia again in 2023.

India’s record in ODIs at Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot

The Niranjan Shah Stadium is known for being a high-scoring venue, with most matches witnessing totals well above the 300-run mark. The pitch generally favours the team batting first, as chasing becomes increasingly difficult under pressure. In India’s win against Australia in 2020, Shikhar Dhawan, Kohli, and KL Rahul played crucial knocks to help the team post a strong total and defend it successfully.

In the other three ODIs played at this venue, India’s batters put up competitive performances and even came close to chasing down the targets. However, tight bowling spells from the opposition in the latter stages of the matches prevented India from crossing the line.

India will be playing an ODI at this venue after nearly two years, making the upcoming clash against New Zealand an important test of their readiness for the 2027 World Cup. With the series currently tilted in their favour, the Men in Blue will look to bounce back strongly at Rajkot, seal the series with a win, and head to Indore for the final match with confidence.