New Zealand took a 2-0 lead in the five-match one-day international series with India after a 15-run victory in Hamilton.

The home side posted 271-7 in 42 overs after their innings was interrupted by rain.

That left the tourists needing a Duckworth-Lewis adjusted total of 297 for victory but they were restricted to 277-9 when the rain returned three balls before the end of their reply.

MS Dhoni won the toss and India opted to bowl first as they did in Sunday's 24-run loss in Napier.

The Kiwis lost Jesse Ryder early, after he blasted four boundaries in an 11-ball 20, but Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson put on 89 for the second wicket.

Guptill departed for 44 in the 21st over but the Black Caps were 114-2 at that point and scoring at in excess of five runs per over.

Two hours were lost to rain and Williamson was stumped off Ravindra Jadeja shortly after the resumption for 77.

However Ross Taylor scored at better than a run-a-ball in making 57 and watched Corey Anderson blast five sixes in a whirlwind 44 off 17 balls to take NZ to a formidable total.

The visitors needed to score in excess of seven runs per over but Tim Southee removed openers Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma inside the opening 10 overs to leave India 37-2.

Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane put on 90 for the third wicket before the latter was caught behind off Mitchell McClenaghan for 36.

Kohli, who made 123 in the first ODI, underlined his status as the second ranked one-day international batsman in the world before he became Southee's third victim after making 78.

India required 131 runs off the final 12 overs and although Suresh Raina hit six boundaries in making 35 off 22 balls and Dhoni brought up his 52nd ODI fifty, the task was too tough.

Anderson removed Dhoni for 56 and Jadeja, who hit his first ball for six, in the 40th over and Southee picked up his fourth scalp, dismissing Ravichandran Ashwin in the penultimate over.

India needed 22 off Anderson's final over but Bhuvneshwar Kumar was caught at deep point off the first ball before rain fell two balls later to end the game.