India wary of West Indies big-hitters despite going 1-0 up
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India vs West Indies, 2nd T20I Preview: India wary of West Indies big-hitters despite going 1-0 up
Even if one or two batters from the visiting side fire on their day, it would be tough for the Indian bowlers to contain them.
Pooran shines
Expectedly, the West Indies were a lot more competitive in the first T20 as compared to the ODI series. A lot went right for India and a lot went wrong for West Indies throughout the match, but still they succeeded in keeping India under pressure, particularly through the second half of the match.
It would have been interesting to see whether or not West Indies succeeded in reaching a total of 156 had Nicholas Pooran been caught on the boundary by Ravi Bishnoi quite early on in the innings off Yuzvendra Chahal but his feet touched the ropes in the process.
Pooran got a lifeline, and like most good players, the wicketkeeper batter took full toll, scoring 61 off just 43 deliveries at a strike rate of over 140 with 4 boundaries and 5 sixes which was the difference between a 130-140 score and the 157 run target which kept West Indies in the game.
Kieron Pollard also did what he does with an unbeaten 24 off 19 balls.
Bishnoi dazzles on debut
Ravi Bishnoi, on his international debut, impressed with two wickets while conceding 17 runs from his four overs. Yuzvendra Chahal also looked good. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Deepak Chahar started off on the money as well and Harshal Patel kept things right in the middle and at the end.
In terms of batting, Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan got India off to a great start with the team motoring along at 64 for no loss in the eighth over when Rohit Sharma was dismissed in an attempt to lift Roston Chase over the leg side boundary.
A few hiccups along the way
Chase, who came into the side in place of the injured Jason Holder, could not do anything special with the bat but stood out with the ball, picking up two wickets while conceding just 14 runs from his four overs to emerge as West Indies' most successful bowler on the night.
Rohit Sharma was brilliant for India, making 40 off just 19 deliveries at a strike rate of over 200. Had he got some support from Ishan Kishan, India could have done it easy.
However, in order to accelerate, with Kishan really struggling at the other, he was caught in the deep. Suryakumar Yadav and Venkatesh Iyer then finished things off after a few hiccups with the dismissals of Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant against the flow of play.
India with the advantage
India look like a better team, even man to man, which was reiterated by the team's relatively comfortable win in 1st T20I.
However, the team would know that West Indies are far too dangerous to be taken lightly. If a couple of their power hitters like Rovman Powell or Kieron Pollard have a field day, things can look totally different.
Can Avesh replace injured Chahar?
Both teams are unlikely to make any changes to their XI. India suffered a few injuries in the field in the 1st T20I with Harshal Patel, Deepak Chahar and Venkatesh Iyer all hit on the hand.
Out of the three, Deepak Chahar's injury seemed the most serious and if he misses out from the 2nd T20I, Avesh Khan can get an opportunity to make his debut.
Predicted playing XIs
India - Rohit Sharma (c), Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Venkatesh Iyer, Harshal Patel, Deepak Chahar/Avesh Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ravi Bishnoi, Yuzvendra Chahal
West Indies - Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Rovman Powell, Roston Chase, Kieron Pollard (c), Fabian Allen, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Akeal Hosein, Sheldon Cottrell
© Cricket World 2022
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