Virat Kohli's superb 74 steered India to a five-wicket victory in the first ODI against New Zealand and the five-match series resumes in Wellington on Saturday.
Rain reduced India's target at Eden Park to 143 from 32 overs but they cannot take anything for granted against a New Zealand side who had won 28 of their previous 30 ODIs at home.
Match Prediction
New Zealand to win – 6/5
India's inexperienced pace attack rose to the occasion in the first ODI as Arshdeep Singh, Anshul Kamboj and Gurnoor Brar shared nine wickets at Eden Park.
New Zealand were bowled out for 185 on their way to a rare home defeat but they should be backed to hit back in Wellington.
The Black Caps beat England by two wickets in their last ODI at the venue, in November 2025, and hope to have key fast bowler Matt Henry available for the second game of the series.
Best Bet
Daryl Mitchell to be New Zealand top batter – 11/4
New Zealand are missing opener Devon Conway and classy all-rounder Rachin Ravindra but they still have plenty of batting power in their ranks.
Three of their top-order gems got starts in the first ODI but Tim Seifert (38), Daryl Mitchell (28) and Glenn Phillips (30) were unable to kick on.
Mitchell's dismissal was a crucial moment in the match, as he hit three fours and a six before being run out by Rohit Sharma.
The Kiwi number four will be determined to make a match-defining contribution in game two and he was outstanding in January's 2-1 ODI series victory in India.
Mitchell made 84, 131 not out and 137 during that series and has been remarkably consistent in this format, reaching 40 in 12 of his last 16 innings.
He tucked into India's bowlers in an innings of 130 at the 2023 World Cup and has fond memories of Wellington, where he scored his maiden ODI century against Bangladesh in March 2021.
Series Prediction
New Zealand to win 3-2 – 5/1
New Zealand's defeat in Auckland was a rare blot on their home ODI record and it could be worth backing the hosts to turn around the five-match series.
Early-season conditions favour the Kiwi fast bowlers and India are missing star paceman Jasprit Bumrah and all-rounder Hardik Pandya.
Player Tips
Virat Kohli is the greatest 50-over batsman of his generation, and possibly of all time, and the 38-year-old looked a cut above the rest in the first ODI.
Kohli's 74 off 51 balls was an excellent knock in a low-scoring contest and he should be backed at 11/4 to be India's top batter in the second ODI, eclipsing captain Shubman Gill.
The veteran made an unbeaten 139 against the West Indies at the end of September and finished July's series in England with scores of 65 and 74.
New Zealand opener Tim Seifert has developed into a top-class T20 batter, showcasing his power by hitting two sixes in the opening game.
Seifert is 1/2 to clear the ropes at least once in the second ODI and he signed off the T20I series against India with a knock of 93, featuring five sixes, in Hamilton.
India opener Rohit Sharma is yet to score a century in 14 ODI innings in New Zealand and he was dismissed for a duck in the first over at Eden Park.
Rohit played out five dot balls from Kyle Jamieson before hitting a catch to mid-off and Matt Henry's return could make his job even harder in Wellington.
England crumbled to 44-5 inside 11 overs in New Zealand's last ODI at the venue so backing Rohit to score under 29.5 runs looks a good bet at 5/6.
Jacob Duffy has a golden arm for New Zealand in 50-over cricket and he picked up the wickets of Kohli, Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel in his seven overs in the first ODI.
Duffy, who is 11/10 to claim two or more scalps on Saturday, averages 1.93 wickets per innings after 14 home ODIs.
Bet Builder
Virat Kohli to be India top batter
Tim Seifert 1+ six
Rohit Sharma under 29.5 runs
Jacob Duffy 2+ wickets
Pays 17/1
