After a narrow four-wicket win in the first ODI at Vadodara,India now travels to Rajkot with their sights set on clinching the series. With the second ODI’s probable playing XI being closely examined, skipper Shubman Gill is facing a challenging “selection dilemma” as backup players have stepped up when called upon.

The opening game highlighted that while seasoned players like Virat Kohli continue to play pivotal roles, emerging talent like Harshit Rana is starting to shift the team’s approach. As the action moves to the batting-friendly Niranjan Shah Stadium, the team management faces a crucial decision on who to replace Washington Sundar in the playing XI due to his injury.

After Washington Sundar was ruled out of the series due to a side strain, attention has shifted to finding his replacement. The BCCI has named Ayush Badoni as his replacement, but it is still unclear whether he will be included in the playing XI for the second ODI.

Badoni, a natural replacement for Sundar, offers both off-spin bowling and dependable batting. While he batted at No. 6 during the recent Vijay Hazare Trophy, his selection could depend on the pitch conditions in Rajkot. Considering the pitch’s history of assisting spinners and New Zealand’s lineup of five left-handed batters, Badoni’s off-spin could play a pivotal role in this match.

Although Nitish Reddy would usually be the top pick for the XI, the situation could result in a different choice.

India’s Probable Playing XI

Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (c), Ravindra Jadeja, Ayush Badoni, Virat Kohli, Harshit Rana, Shreyas Iyer (vc), KL Rahul (wk), Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.