Virat Kohli-led Indian side is all set to take on New Zealand in a do-or-die battle at the Maharashtra Cricket Association stadium in Pune on October 25. Team India tasted defeat in the first ODI at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on October 22. Kiwis beat the Men in Blue by 6 wickets. Indian Team must win this game to keep the ODI series alive as Black Caps already leading the three-match ODI series by 1-0. On the other hand, New Zealand would like to create history by clinching the series as they have never won an ODI series on Indian soil.
Will there be a change in Indian squad?
The No.8 ranked ICC ODI bowler, Axar Patel is warming the benches. Patel is economical and could have created a problem or two against Ross Taylor in the middle overs. Patel might replace Yuzvendra Chahal in India’s Playing XI in the Pune ODI.
Will there be a change in the New Zealand squad?
Colin de Grandhomme was seen puking in the first ODI due to hot and humid conditions. He had to go off the field and Colin Munro completed Grandhomme’s remaining overs. Grandhomme might be rested in the Pune ODI. Matt Henry might replace him in the playing XI.
Biggest worry for India?
Rohit Sharma has struggled against the left-arm pacers. At first, it was Mohammad Amir, then it was Jason Behrendorff and now it’s Trent Boult. Rohit really needs to work on his technique against him otherwise Ajinkya Rahane might get a nod ahead of him.
The biggest threat to India?
Tom Latham emerged as the perfect middle order batsman for New Zealand team, he can tackle the spinners well with his sweeps and reverse sweeps. He is the X-factor in the batting department New Zealand were looking for.
Predicted Playing XI:
Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli (c), Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, MS Dhoni (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah
Predict Playing XI:
Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Kane Williamson (c), Ross Taylor, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Adam Milne Tim Southee, Trent Boult
#TeamIndia members gear up for the 2nd ODI against New Zealand at Pune #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/O2kYNh5MEM
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 24, 2017
Teams:
India: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli(captain), Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, M.S. Dhoni (wicketkeeper), Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal, Manish Pandey, Ajinkya Rahane, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Mohammed Siraj.
New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Kane Williamson (captain), Ross Taylor, Tom Latham (wicketkeeper), Henry Nicholls, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Adam Milne, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Matt Henry, Glenn Phillips, George Worker, Tom Bruce, Ish Sodhi.
