Why Arshdeep Singh is Not Playing Today Match in IND vs NZ 2nd ODI?

The Indian Cricket Team are locking horns with New Zealand Cricket Team in the second match of the NZ Tour of India. The match between the two teams is taking place at the Niranjan Shah Stadium, Khandheri in Rajkot on Wednesday, January 14.

India won the first ODI of the series in Vadodara and now would be looking to seal the series in the second game itself. They made one change for the second IND vs NZ ODI, replacing one of the best all-rounders in the world, Washington Sundar, with Nitish Kumar Reddy.

However, one of the things that caught the attention of many was Arshdeep Singh still warming the bench. The Indian team management rested him in the first game as well, going ahead with Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna in 11.

Why Arshdeep Singh is Not Playing Today in IND vs NZ 2nd ODI?

But with Arshdeep Singh replacement, Harshit Rana not living up to the expectations, and Prasidh Krishna not having a great record in ODIs, it was expected that Arshdeep Singh would be back in the 11. But that wasn’t the case as he still warmed the bench in the second match as well.

The reason behind Arshdeep Singh Not Playing Today in IND vs NZ 2nd ODI is mainly due to the team combination. The team management has been preferring bowlers who can bat over pure bowlers, and hence, the left-arm seamer had to sit out again.

Also, with the T20I series against New Zealand around the corner and with Arshdeep Singh being the top pacer in the format, there is a common thought that team management is keeping him fit for the T20I series as well as the T20 World Cup 2026.

One of the best T20 bowlers in the world, Arshdeep Singh’s omission came as a massive surprise, as he has been one of the best pacers for India in the white-ball format. In the last series against South Africa, Arshdeep was at his best as he picked five wickets in three games and was very economical.

The Indian side would want to wrap up the series in the second game itself. They won the first game with ease and would be eyeing a similar result in the second match as well.

India VS New Zealand Playing 11 for 2nd ODI

New Zealand (Playing XI): Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Hay(w), Michael Bracewell(c), Zakary Foulkes, Jayden Lennox, Kyle Jamieson, Kristian Clarke

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