The ODI series between Pakistan and New Zealand has so far consisted of one match, with the series 1–0 in favor of New Zealand. The second encounter is scheduled for Seddon Park in Hamilton. With the momentum after their victory in the first ODI, the hosts will seek to clinch the series, while Pakistan hope to recover and keep the series alive.

Match Details – 2nd ODI

1st ODI Recap

New Zealand began the series on a high note with a convincing 73-run victory. Given to bat first, the hosts put up a huge score of 344/9, with a scintillating 132 from Mark Chapman and a steady 76 from Daryl Mitchell.

In reply, Pakistan scored 271 before being bowled out in the 45th over. Babar Azam scored the highest with 78, while Salman Agha contributed a 58-ball 58. Nathan Smith was the star of the bowling attack, taking 4 wickets, while Jacob Duffy took 2.

Predicted Playing XI – New Zealand

Bench: Nick Kelly, Mohammad Abbas, Rhys Mariu

Predicted Playing XI – Pakistan

Bench: Faheem Ashraf, Irfan Khan Niazi, Akif Javed, Sufiyan Muqeem

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What to Watch

The second ODI promises several key mini-battles. New Zealand’s young squad has shown maturity and composure, but can they maintain consistency to close out the series? Pakistan will be hoping that their experienced top order, led by Babar and Rizwan, can guide them to a comeback. The middle overs will be crucial, particularly the contest between Pakistan’s spinners and New Zealand’s left-handers like Chapman and Bracewell.

Venue Watch – Seddon Park, Hamilton

Seddon Park generally has a good batting wicket with true bounce and quick outfields that reward stroke play. Spinners may come into the picture towards the later part of the day as the wicket deteriorates. Historically, run chases have been a preferred choice at this ground, and therefore, the toss may again be crucial.

What to Expect

With New Zealand replete with confidence and Pakistan desperate to hit back, the second ODI is going to be a thrilling contest. The Kiwis will want to wrap up the series at the earliest opportunity, while Pakistan possesses the arsenal to hit back. Hamilton will be the stage where all attention will be concentrated as the series gathers momentum.

Will Pakistan discover their rhythm and attract level of attraction, or will New Zealand keep extending their winning streak? The answers lie in the second ODI encounter.

Joe Root has confirmed he is not in the running to become England’s next white-ball captain following Jos Buttler’s resignation after the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The 34-year-old batter, who led England’s Test team from 2017 to 2022, stated that his time as captain is over.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Root said, “I think that ship has sailed. I’ve done my time as a captain in an England shirt. I’m sure whoever gets the opportunity will be extremely proud and do a brilliant job.”

While Root never captained England in limited-overs formats, he returned to the ODI side this year and finished as one of the top performers in the Champions Trophy. He was England’s leading batter in the tournament, finishing as the fourth-highest run-scorer overall, and nearly took his team over the line in their final match against Afghanistan with a gritty century.

Despite his personal success, England endured a disappointing campaign, failing to reach the semifinals. Jos Buttler stepped down as captain shortly before their final group game against South Africa. Since then, England has yet to announce a new leader for the ODI side.

Among the contenders, vice-captain Harry Brook is currently seen as the front-runner. However, managing director Rob Key has hinted that Ben Stokes could be considered for the white-ball captaincy, potentially uniting both red and white-ball leadership under one figure. Brendon McCullum has not ruled out the option of having separate captains for ODIs and T20Is.

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Root acknowledged England’s recent struggles but remains confident in the squad’s potential. “We didn’t play anywhere near what we’re capable of. But there’s so much talent and so much more to come. This is a good opportunity to reset and move forward as a group.”

Despite not being a regular in England’s T20I squad since 2019, Root's form in franchise cricket has drawn attention. He impressed in this year’s SA20 tournament with the Paarl Royals, scoring 279 runs at an average of 55.80 and a strike rate of 140.20.

Looking ahead, Root turned his focus to the upcoming Test summer, starting with a five-match series against India at home from June 20. The series will kick off the new cycle of the World Test Championship.

“India coming over means there’s no hiding place. It’s a long series, and we’ll need to deliver match-winning performances consistently,” Root said.

With Root stepping aside from the leadership conversation, England’s white-ball future now rests on the next generation to take the team forward.

Ex-Indian cricketer Ambati Rayudu recently made highlight of his retirement from ODI cricket, a subject that generated a lot of controversy in 2019-20. He retired in 2019 after being omitted from India's World Cup team twice.

He was initially not added to the 15-man roster for the World Cup in 2019. Subsequently, when Shikhar Dhawan and Vijay Shankar got injured, selectors picked Rishabh Pant and Mayank Agarwal ahead of him. Disappointed by this, Rayudu chose to retire from international cricket.

Ambati Rayudu's Cricket Journey

Rayudu came to be recognized initially as the skipper of India's Under-19 side during the 2004 World Cup. His teammates were future greats such as Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Dinesh Karthik, and Robin Uthappa. He however waited nearly a decade to represent India.

He made his first ODI in 2013 against Zimbabwe but rose to prominence during India's tour of England in 2014. His consistent performances earned him a spot in the team. Even though he was selected for the 2015 World Cup, he did not get to feature in any of the matches.

Though he was in and out of the Indian team he did well in domestic cricket and the IPL. He was a key player for Mumbai Indians, winning championships with them in 2013, 2015, and 2017 before shifting his base to Chennai Super Kings in 2018.

Rayudu on why he retired so early 🤣#TimeOut pic.twitter.com/rbUX92Bhba

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) March 27, 2025

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2019 World Cup Snub and Retirement

Rayudu was a major contributor to CSK's 2018 IPL title, with 602 runs in the season. He earned a place in India's Asia Cup team and the West Indies series on the basis of his performance. But he didn't perform well against Australia and lost his spot in the 2019 World Cup team and hence his international career.

He ended his ODI career with 1,694 runs in 55 matches at a stunning average of 47.06. He also had three centuries and ten fifties to his name. He, however, featured in just six T20Is, making 42 runs, and never had the opportunity to play Test cricket.

Rayudu's Funny Reply to a Fan

During ESPNCricinfo’s Time Out show, a fan from Bihar asked Rayudu why he retired early despite having good stats. The fan also said he wanted to meet him.

Rayudu humorously responded that it would take an entire week to tell the entire story, leaving everyone in splits. He has, over time, suggested that Virat Kohli, Ravi Shastri, and MSK Prasad were involved in his not being picked for the 2019 World Cup team.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have decided to swap the One Day International (ODI) matches with Twenty20 International (T20I) games in the upcoming bilateral series between the two nations. This is done as part of preparations for both teams for the Asia Cup 2025 and the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.

The initial series, the tour of Pakistan by Bangladesh in May 2025, had three ODIs in it originally but has now been changed to a series of five T20I matches by the boards. This will provide both the teams with great experience in the T20 format as they prepare for upcoming international tournaments.

The second series, the Pakistan tour of Bangladesh in July 2025, was also to be made up of three ODIs. But it will now include three T20I matches instead. This is done to provide the teams with more emphasis on T20 cricket, as both are gearing up for the challenges in the upcoming big T20 tournaments.

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This shift from ODIs to T20Is is happening when T20 cricket is rapidly gaining popularity throughout the world with the majority of the world's major cricket nations placing greater significance on this version due to its fast and short nature. It is being considered a major part of the run-up to the upcoming international tournaments like the Asia Cup and T20 World Cup.

This change places particular importance on the increasing importance of T20I cricket within today's game and offers Bangladesh and Pakistan a chance to iron out their plans and improve their T20I side in preparation for the much-awaited Asia Cup 2025 and the T20 World Cup 2026.

The Indian cricket team for men will tour South Africa to play a limited-overs series during November and December 2025. The three One Day Internationals (ODIs) and five Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) will be played across cities in India.

ODI Series Schedule

India will first play three ODIs against South Africa. Here is the complete schedule:

• 1st ODI: November 30 – Ranchi
• 2nd ODI: December 3 – Raipur
• 3rd ODI: December 6 – Visakhapatnam (Vizag)
• T20I Series Schedule

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After the ODI series, both teams will play five T20 matches at different venues.

• 1st T20I: December 9 – Cuttack
• 2nd T20I: December 11 – Nagpur
• 3rd T20I: December 14 – Dharamshala
• 4th T20I: December 17 – Lucknow
• 5th T20I: December 19 – Ahmedabad

The Schedule of India vs South Africa 2025: (Gaurav Gupta/TOI).

1st ODI - 30th Nov at Ranchi.
2nd ODI - 3rd Dec at Raipur.
3rd ODI - 6th Dec at Vizag.

1st T20I - 9th Dec at Cuttack.
2nd T20I - 11th Dec at Nagpur.
3rd T20I - 14th Dec at Dharmshala.
4th T20I - 17th Dec at… pic.twitter.com/A6MvIqQiZ6

— Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) March 22, 2025

Faisalabad's Iqbal Stadium will host an international game for the first time in 17 years. The city's old stadium will host May 2025 white-ball series between Pakistan and Bangladesh. It is a great moment for Faisalabad because international cricket was not being organized there for several years.

The match will be One Day International - Wikipedia and T20 between Pakistan and Bangladesh and will be held in three cities, Faisalabad, Lahore, and Multan. The competitions will feature the best of both teams with heart-stopping cricketing action for the spectators.

Faisalabad's Iqbal Stadium is famous for its cricket-loving supporters and will have an electric feel when it will host the eagerly awaited international game. The stadium has hosted various domestic games previously, but it had been nearly a decade since an international-grade game was planned there last in 2008. Now after nearly two decades, the stadium gates will once again open up for international cricketers and spectators.

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Lahore and Multan will be equally crucial centers in this series. Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium and Multan's Multan Cricket Stadium are among the best grounds of Pakistan, and they have hosted more than enough wonderful cricket matches already. The white-ball series will be a grand spectacle for all three cities, as the crowd will get to see their home teams play at home.

This Bangladesh-Pakistan tournament will be significant for both sides as they build momentum for the future international tournaments. It is also the perfect time for cricket fans in these cities to witness good cricket firsthand.

Overall, this is a big win for cricket fans in Multan, Lahore, and Faisalabad, and something to look forward to for the sport of cricket in Pakistan.

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma is not ready to take it easy yet. As per Cricbuzz reports, Rohit has a carefully planned strategy to maintain fitness levels and stay in competition for the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup.

For ensuring that he stays at his prime, Rohit will have his trusted mentor and coach, Abhishek Nayar, regularly in touch. There will be focus on his fitness, shaping his batting talent, and forming his general outlook towards the sport.

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At 37, Rohit knows the harsh realities of playing top-level cricket but his love for the game remains undeterred. He has just led India in the 2023 World Cup, and even if there was disappointment at the end in the final, his leadership and batting were throughout greatly admired. Today, he intends to stay India's captain until the next World Cup cycle.

With experience, consistency, and a hunger for success, Rohit's journey to 2027 would be one to watch. Does he lead India to glory? Only time will say.

India has produced cricket with some of the best ODI batsmen ever, and the team currently playing is nothing short of legendary. With class, consistency, and power-hitting, the batting order has overwhelmed world cricket.

Shubman Gill - Number 1.
Rohit Sharma - Number 3.
Virat Kohli - Number 5.
Shreyas Iyer - Number 8.
KL Rahul - Number 16.

ONE OF THE GREATEST ODI BATTING UNIT EVER 🤯🔥 pic.twitter.com/5XGxtMB9fp

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 12, 2025

1. Shubman Gill – The Rising Star
Shubman Gill is now one of the finest young openers of international cricket. His elegant stroke play, attacking mindset, and unbelievable consistency make him a star player for India.

2. Rohit Sharma – The Hitman
At No. 3, Rohit Sharma is among the greatest ODI destroyers in history. With several double-hundreds in his credit, his capacity to accelerate innings and support the top order is unparalleled.

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3. Virat Kohli – The Chase Master
Virat Kohli, the No. 5, is the mainstay of India's ODI batting. His impeccable technique, hunger to run, and ability to chase down any target make him among the all-time great batsmen in cricketing history.

4. Shreyas Iyer – The Middle-Order Maestro
Sporting No. 8, Shreyas Iyer has brought stability and aggression to India's middle order. His strike rotation ability and acceleration at the appropriate time give huge value to the batting lineup. 

5. KL Rahul – The Trusty Finisher
Sporting No. 16, KL Rahul is India's utility batter who can adapt to any situation. If he opens or shuts shop, his calm demeanor and repertoire of shots make him a vital cog.

A Legendary ODI Batting Line-up
This line-up has the mix of youth and experience, aggression and composure, which makes it the all-time greatest ODI line-up. With their talent and sheer will, they have written themselves into the annals of cricketing history

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma has kept the door ajar for his inclusion in the 2027 ODI World Cup, insisting that it will be based on his form and fitness in the next few years.

Talking about his future in ODI cricket, Rohit stated, "It's very difficult to say that at the moment about the 2027 ODI World Cup. But I'm leaving all my doors open. I want to see how well I'm performing. At the moment, I'm performing well. And I'm enjoying everything I'm doing with this team, and the team is enjoying my presence as well, which is good."

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Rohit's remark is a reflection of his present confidence and love of the game, coupled with the indication that he will evaluate his performance before making a final decision on his future. At 36, the dashing opener has been in golden form, steering the Indian team with consistency and experience.

With the 2027 World Cup three years off, cricket supporters will be interested in observing if Rohit can continue to lord over the format and is an integral player for India in the future. Until then, he continues to think about his current form and the team's contributions, leaving all options available to the future.

India's team is warming up for the 2027 ODI World Cup, with the event poised to be staged in South Africa in October. Ahead of the World Cup, India will prepare by hosting 24 ODIs in different series against powerful nations.

Why This Schedule Matters

• Experimenting With Different Combinations: Having many young players involved, the team management will find sufficient time to experiment with different combinations and find the right combination.
• Different Conditions: Playing against countries like Australia, South Africa, and England will give India good exposure to differing conditions of play.
• Picking Up Momentum: Performing well in these bilateral series will raise the team morale prior to the World Cup.
• Identifying Key Players: These periods will be defining for veterans to find their place and for the young guns to find a place in the 50-over game.

India's Future ODI Series:

• 3 ODIs vs Bangladesh
• 3 ODIs vs Australia
• 3 ODIs vs South Africa
• 3 ODIs vs Afghanistan
• 3 ODIs vs England
• 3 ODIs vs West Indies
• 3 ODIs vs New Zealand
• 3 ODIs vs Sri Lanka

These fixtures will enable India to experiment with different combinations, strengthen their team, and build momentum before the World Cup. With stiff competition from the world's best teams, India will seek to refine their strategies and form a winning team for the tournament.

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The Road Ahead

Since South Africa is hosting the 2027 ODI World Cup, India will have to adapt to the conditions. Seam-friendly tracks, bouncy pitches, and unpredictable weather are going to be the tasks that India will have to acclimatize to. The series ahead will give players the experience and form patterns to thrive in those conditions.

As the World Cup 2027 countdown begins, everyone's eyes are going to fall on Team India's preparation. Are they going to form a team strong enough to take the trophy home here? The journey has begun, and every single match is going to play a deciding role in the destiny of Indian cricket