New Zealand outclassed India across departments to register a series-levelling seven-wicket victory in the second ODI at Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot on Wednesday (January 14).

The Indian bowlers failed to defend 285 as the Kiwis rode on Daryl Mitchell’s unbeaten 131 and Will Young’s 87 to overhaul the target with 15 deliveries to spare.

After the game, former cricketer Irfan Pathan’s attributed Ravindra Jadeja’s lack of intent with the bat as one of the major factors behind India’s loss. He also questioned the all-rounder’s spot in India's ODI playing XI.

Batting at No. 6, Jadeja took 44 deliveries to score 27 runs. His slow knock included only one boundary.

"Where did India lose the match? KL Rahul played with a strike rate of 90 but Ravindra Jadeja only maintained a strike rate of 60 during his innings of 27," Pathan said while speaking on his YouTube channel.

"Rajkot is also Jadeja's home ground. In Test cricket, if there is an all-rounder after Kapil Dev, it's Jadeja. But when it comes to ODI cricket, Jadeja struggles in rotating the strike. He needed to play with a strike rate of 80, but couldn't," he added.

Irfan Pathan highlighted a few concerning stats to explain why Jadeja's spot in India's ODI team could be under threat.

"Jadeja hasn't scored a fifty in ODIs since 2020. He is under plenty of pressure. With the ball, Jadeja has managed only one wicket in the last five games. His average is 200.

"These are poor numbers for any senior player. Axar Patel is no doubt ahead of him. Jadeja must perform in the next game and it was a decisive factor in India's defeat," Pathan remarked.

India made a winning start to the series, beating New Zealand by four wickets in Vadodara. The outcome in Rajkot has now set up a series-decider in Indore on Sunday (January 18).