Wellington, November 2026 : Rain disrupted the ongoing five-match ODI series between India and New Zealand for the second consecutive match, delaying the toss ahead of the second encounter at Hnry Stadium in Wellington on Saturday.
India currently lead the series 1-0 after securing a five-wicket victory in the rain-affected opening ODI in Auckland on Wednesday. However, persistent showers in Wellington have raised concerns over another weather-interrupted contest.
The city experienced continuous rainfall during the first half of Friday, forcing both teams to reconsider their scheduled practice sessions. The training sessions were originally planned at Basin Reserve instead of the match venue, Hnry Stadium.
While New Zealand shifted its practice to an indoor facility, the Indian team cancelled its training session altogether.
Weather forecasts also indicated the possibility of further rain on Saturday. According to AccuWeather, Wellington had a 60 per cent chance of precipitation during the day, with the probability of showers standing at 60 per cent in the morning and reducing slightly to 55 per cent during the second half.
The match was scheduled to begin at 3 pm local time (7:30 am IST). However, with the toss delayed due to wet conditions, both teams remained on standby as officials assessed the weather and ground conditions.
The opening ODI in Auckland had also witnessed multiple rain interruptions. New Zealand were bowled out for 185 after batting first, leaving India with a target of 186 runs in 50 overs.
However, rain repeatedly interrupted India's chase, forcing officials to revise the target under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method. Eventually, India were set a revised target of 143 runs in 32 overs.
The visitors completed the chase comfortably, reaching 147 for five in just 22.4 overs to register a five-wicket victory and take the lead in the series.
Fast bowler Arshdeep Singh played a crucial role with the ball, claiming four wickets to restrict New Zealand to 185. Veteran batter Virat Kohli then produced a match-winning performance, scoring 74 runs off just 51 deliveries.
Kohli's aggressive innings ensured India remained comfortably ahead of the DLS par score despite the repeated interruptions, helping the visitors secure victory.
With India leading the series, the second ODI offers New Zealand an opportunity to level the contest. However, the weather remains a major concern, with both teams hoping for sufficient playing conditions to complete the match.
