Who Will Fill Washington's Spot? Arshdeep Singh IN for Prasidh Krishna? Check Probable India Playing 11 For India vs New Zealand 2nd ODI

The spotlight shifts to Rajkot as India and New Zealand gear up for the second ODI, but beyond the Ro-Ko frenzy, one key question is who replaces Washington Sundar. The Tamil Nadu all-rounder’s injury has forced the team management to rethink balance, combinations, and future planning.

India head into the match with confidence after a solid win in Baroda, led by the evergreen duo of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Their form has not just lifted the team but also revived interest in ODIs. However, the absence of Sundar leaves a clear gap in the lower middle order and bowling depth.

Who replaces Washington Sundar?

All signs point towards Nitish Kumar Reddy. Surprisingly benched in the first ODI, Nitish brings pace-bowling ability along with clean hitting, something India values while preparing for the 2027 World Cup. His inclusion also allows India to maintain batting depth till No. 8 without compromising bowling options.

Ayush Badoni has joined the squad, but a debut looks unlikely for now. The team management seems keen on tested combinations rather than experiments.

Arshdeep Singh IN for Prasidh Krishna?

Another talking point is the pace attack. While Prasidh Krishna offers bounce, Rajkot’s flat surface and shorter boundaries could favour left-arm variation. This opens the door for Arshdeep Singh, especially with the new ball and at the death.

Arshdeep’s ability to swing the ball early and bowl yorkers late could be crucial against New Zealand’s middle order.

Probable India Playing 11 For 2nd ODI

1. Shubman Gill (c)
2. Rohit Sharma
3. Virat Kohli
4. Shreyas Iyer
5. KL Rahul (wk)
6. Ravindra Jadeja
7. Nitish Kumar Reddy
8. Harshit Rana
9. Kuldeep Yadav
10. Mohammed Siraj
11. Arshdeep Singh/Prasidh Krishna

India Squad

Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (c), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, KL Rahul (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, Ayush Badoni, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel