IND vs NZ 2nd ODI: Match Highlights and Key Performances

Visitors New Zealand levelled the three-match ODI series 1-1 with one to go after comfortably winning the second ODI at Rajkot on Wednesday (January 14) night. 

After New Zealand chose to field first, India scored 284/7 in 50 overs, while New Zealand chased down the target in 47.3 overs only losing three wickets.

Indian openers Rohit Sharma and captain Shubman Gill provided a good start with a 70-run partnership for the first wicket. Rohit scored 24 off 38 balls, while the skipper Gill later completed his half-century. 

Gill was dismissed for 56 runs off 53 balls with nine fours and one six, while in-form Virat Kohli was bowled for 23 off 29 balls, and Shreyas Iyer was dismissed for only eight runs. India were once struggling at 118/4. 

Watch: KL Rahul smashes fighting century in IND vs NZ 2nd ODI

KL Rahul century rescued Indian innings

While KL Rahul then strongly held the Indian innings, he got some good support from Ravindra Jadeja and Nitish Kumar Reddy. Rahul had a 73-run partnership with Jadeja for the fifth wicket, and after Jadeja's dismissal for 27 runs, Rahul had another crucial 57-run partnership with Nitish Kumar Reddy for the sixth wicket. 

While Nitish was dismissed for 20 runs, Rahul continued his impressive batting to secure a stronger total on the challenging pitch. In the 49th over, Rahul completed his eighth ODI century with a six to Kyle Jamieson's full-toss. Rahul scored 112 not out off 92 balls with 1`1 fours and one six, as the right-handed batter finished the innings with a four. 

Among the Blackcaps bowlers, Kristian Clarke picked up three out of the first four wickets, as he finished with the bowling figures of 8-0-56-3. Also, four more New Zealand bowlers got one wicket each, while the debutant Jayden Lennox impressed with the bowling figures of 10-0-42-1. 

Daryl Mitchell and Will Young set New Zealand chase

In reply, New Zealand openers, Devon Conway (16) and Henry Nicholls (10) lost their wickets cheaply, as the visitors were batting at 46/2 in 12.4 overs.  

However, Will Young and Daryl Mitchell set the New Zealand innings with a strong partnership. They set a 162-run partnership for the third wicket. While Young was dismissed after scoring 87 off 98 balls with seven fours, Mitchell strongly handled the innings, as he guided the Blackcaps to chase down the target comfortably. 

Mitchell slammed a 96-ball century as he scored 131 not out off 117 balls with the help of 11 fours and two sixes. Mitchell and Glenn Phillips had a 78-run partnership for the unbroken fourth wicket, while Phillips scored 32 not out off 25 balls with two fours and one six. 

Daryl Mitchell hit his eighth ODI century, as he recorded his second-highest ODI score, and without any doubt, he won the Player of the Match award for his match-winning innings.