The Ro-Ko caravan has rolled into Rajkot, and with it has come a wave of excitement that refuses to slow down. The Niranjan Shah Stadium is expected to be packed to the rafters for the second ODI against New Zealand, underlining just how powerful the Rohit Sharma–Virat Kohli factor has become in modern Indian cricket. Since broadcasters began pushing the Ro-Ko narrative last year, ODI cricket has enjoyed an unexpected revival.

A format once labelled as fading has suddenly found new life through sold-out venues, rising television ratings, and renewed commercial interest. The appeal is simple: two icons in their mid-30s still performing at an elite level, with fans eager to witness every chapter of their late-career brilliance. Virat Kohli’s fluent 93 in Baroda was another reminder of his enduring class, even if the missed century left a slight sense of unfinished business.

Rohit Sharma, meanwhile, continues to set the tone at the top. His aggressive intent against Kyle Jamieson in the first ODI silenced any doubts about him easing off.  A brisk 26, laced with five boundaries, showed that Rohit remains as dangerous as ever, especially on batting-friendly surfaces like Rajkot. Beyond the Ro-Ko show, team selection is emerging as a crucial subplot. With an eye on the 2027 ODI World Cup, questions remain over whether the management is fully aligned on its core group.

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Nitish Kumar Reddy’s absence in the first ODI raised eyebrows, particularly with Washington Sundar now sidelined by injury. The Andhra all-rounder looks a natural fit for Rajkot, while debutants Ayush Badoni and Dhruv Jurel may have to wait a little longer. Michael Bracewell’s New Zealand side has already shown resilience, but Shubman Gill’s India start as strong favourites. With a flat pitch and a buzzing crowd, Rajkot is set for another run-fest driven by the ever-reliable Ro-Ko magic.

India

Ayush Badoni has joined the Indian squad in Rajkot as Washington Sundar’s injury replacement, but his international debut is unlikely in the second ODI against New Zealand. The team management is expected to back Nitish Kumar Reddy, with the rest of India’s XI set to remain unchanged after their win in Baroda.

Probable XI: Shubman Gill (c), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk) Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.

New Zealand

New Zealand will look to improve on a near-miss in the series opener. Their batters need to convert starts into meaningful scores, especially through the middle overs. With the ball, Kyle Jamieson will lead the attack, but stronger support from Kristian Clarke and Zakary Foulkes will be crucial.

Probable XI: Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Hay (wk), Michael Bracewell (c), Zakary Foulkes, Kristian Clarke, Kyle Jamieson, Adithya Ashok