India recorded a comprehensive victory in their 1000th ODI and now stand just one win away from a valuable series win. The West Indies will know that they have the quality to improve on their showing in the first match. Who will come out on top? Read on for our full India vs West Indies Second ODI preview and prediction:
India vs West Indies Second ODI Preview and Prediction
Series So Far
India came into this series after a disappointing 3-0 defeat in their most recent ODI series against South Africa, with the only consolation the lack of Super League points on offer. It was a series in which they struggled to take wickets, which fatally undermined their batting against a talented South African attack. But they looked rather more comfortable on home turf up against a West Indian side that suffered a damaging loss of their own recently against Ireland, in a series that did count towards World Cup qualification.
India have developed an impressive battery of pace bowlers in recent years, but they remain at their best on spinning tracks and so it proved against the West Indies. Washington Sundar and Yuzvendra Chahal combined to take seven wickets with the West Indian batsman struggling badly against the two Indian spinners. Encouragingly, Prasidh Krishna and Mohammad Siraj were also amongst the wickets. Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav and Deepak Hooda also impressed with the bat for India.
Expected Teams
Sharma, in his first match since being installed as India’s white-ball captain, made a quickfire 60 to guide India through the chase, re-asserting his position as one of the game’s best openers. Ishan Kishan, playing in KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan’s absence did not do enough to secure a spot for the rest of the series however, scoring just 28. Rahul, available again, will likely slot back into the side. Virat Kohli managed just eight, but will certainly keep his place, as will Rishabh Pant at four.
Kumar and Hooda, on his Indian debut, combined effectively to guide India across the line after Kohli and Pant fell cheaply. Sundar and Thakur weren’t called upon to bat, but both can contribute with valuable lower-order runs if required and, as mentioned above, Sundar had a fine day with the ball. Siraj struck early to remove Shai Hope and conceded just 26 runs in his eight overs. Chahal was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets, whilst Krishna also had a fine day.
For the West Indies, there is work to do with the bat. Shai Hope has a superb record in one-day cricket, but the Barbadian opener is in need of a score. Brandon King probably has more credit in the bank at the moment, but will no doubt one to make sure of his spot for the foreseeable by putting some runs on the board. The middle-order of Darren Bravo, Shamarh Brooks and Nicholas Pooran have plenty of talent, but must perform more consistently if the West Indies are to improve.
Kieron Pollard can hit a long ball, but would benefit from a more judicious shot selection. Jason Holder continued his fine recent form with a lone-hand 57. The bowling continent of Akeal Hossain, Fabian Allen, who scored an impressive but vain 29, Alzarri Joseph and Kemar Roach, making a return to ODI cricket after a lengthy absence, had little chance of hurting India with so few runs on the board. They will be hoping the batting unit can give them more to bowl at in the second match.
Prediction
India underperformed in South Africa, but they are a different beast on home turf. No side is better stocked with spinners than India and they also have deep reserves of batting talent to call upon. There will be sterner tests for them if they are to succeed in winning the World Cup at home next year than the West Indies, but they look like they will take some stopping. They certainly look to strong by half for a West Indies side that remains in transition.
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