Last Updated on 6 years by Charbel Coorey
Did you have some hope of a competitive contest when Kieran Powell took it to India early? What about when Shimron Hetmyer hit a blazing century? Or when Devendra Bishoo and Kemar Roach did well to get West Indies to what we thought was a competitive 322?
In the end at Guhawati, even 400 would have not been enough, such was the remarkable ease in which Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli completely dismantled the Windies. Is it as simple to predict the second match could take a similar path?
With the sheer brilliance of the Sharma-Kohli show, India further highlighted just how prolific their top order is. Even with Shikhar Dhawan falling early, it simply did not stop the other two going ballistic. But, despite the easy win in the end, India will want a better performance in the field, where they were sloppy at times in the 1st ODI. Also, given what happened the other night, no one can blame you if you think the Indian middle order won’t be at all tested in this series.
With a competitive total on the board, West Indies had every reason to have hope. But, in like snatching candy away from a child, the Windies were left pondering what could have been. In what is one of the biggest examples of “easier said than done” in world cricket, the visitors had to get rid of at least two of India’s top three quickly, only managed one, and spent the night chasing leather. Will they have a better time of things in the 2nd ODI?
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Key to an India win
The ease at which Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma made batting look was simply scary, but skipper Kohli might not have been fully pleased at the innings break in Guwahati. India perhaps conceded 50 more than they should have, given the position the West Indies were in before the halfway mark.
Were India taken by surprise by the Windies’ very attacking approach? There is a fair chance they were, given the inconsistent bowling on show at times, except from the consistent Yuzvendra Chahal, who is now an even more important cog in the India line up with Kuldeep Yadav not playing. With India’s top order firing in recent times, the Windies will out to get as many runs as they can, so can India’s seamers in particular restrict them better?
And, of course, the top three are key to India’s chances in this match. Whether this series will tell us anything more than we already know about India is another matter, but one can look forward to Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli go at it in the 2nd ODI. They are a pleasure to watch when in full flow.
Key to a West Indies win
Mentioned it in the
1st ODI Preview, and will mention it again – If West Indies fail to contain India’s top three, we may as well have them pack their bags, go back to the hotel, and then prepare for the 3rd ODI.
Oshane Thomas began with pace and promise, and then finished with pace off Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s bat. His potential is there to see, and it will be worth the Windies having a think over who partners him up top. Do the Windies look to take pace off the ball earlier, and try make the Indians force the pace? With Devendra Bishoo and Ashley Nurse milked with ease on Sunday, Jason Holder’s men need to bowl with consistency and precision, and take whatever chances come their way to have a chance here.
Also, it seemed like West Indies would not fulfill the early promise they showed with the bat, but their attacking approach got them to a competitive total in the end. However, more singles and rotation of strike is important to ensure they make full use of their boundaries, and build partnerships. Will Marlon Samuels step up? Can Shai Hope finally build on starts? Can Shimron Hetmyer deliver again? To have a chance in this one, the onus is on the Windies top order.
Possible XIs
India could bring Kuldeep Yadav back, but with the squad for the final three ODIs to be announced after this game, they could stick with the same side to give the players another chance.
India possible XI: 1. Rohit Sharma, 2. Shikhar Dhawan, 3. Virat Kohli (c), 4. Ambati Rayudu, 5. Rishabh Pant, 6. MS Dhoni (wk), 7. Ravindra Jadeja, 8. Yuzvendra Chahal, 9. Umesh Yadav, 10. Mohammed Shami, 11. Khaleel Ahmed
What changes could West Indies make? Ashley Nurse looked very ineffective, so too Devendra Bishoo, and you feel one of them could potentially be left out for a seamer or left arm spinner Fabian Allen.
West Indies possible XI: 1. Kieran Powell, 2. Chanderpaul Hemraj, 3. Shai Hope (wk), 4. Marlon Samuels, 5. Shimron Hetmyer, 6. Rovman Powell, 7. Jason Holder (c), 8. Ashley Nurse/Fabian Allen, 9. Devendra Bishoo/Alzarri Joseph, 10. Kemar Roach, 11. Oshane Thomas
Dream11
Spent quite a bit of time deciding my
Dream11 for this clash. Below is my side, with a few pointers.
- Batsmen dominate my side, with each of India’s top four selected.
- Ravindra Jadeja and Jason Holder each have wicket taking potential, and Holder in particular run scoring potential.
- Leaving Shimron Hetmyer out was a tough call, but balance of the team is vital. Shai Hope is likelier to get a chance to bat good time as opposed to MS Dhoni.
- Yuzvendra Chahal is an important selection. Khaleel Ahmed and Osmane Thomas are on the lower end of the price spectrum, with a focus on batting in this team. Both bowlers though have wicket taking potential.
Stats and Facts
- Virat Kohli is 81 runs away from 10,000 in ODIs. Sachin Tendulkar, in 2001, brought up 10,000 runs in his 259th innings. Kohli currently has 9,919 runs in 204 innings, and will easily be the quickest to 10,000 ODI runs.
- Devendra Bishoo and Kemar Roach added an unbeaten 44 at the end of the West Indies innings in Guwahati.
- Rohit Sharma needs one six to equal Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 195 sixes in ODIs.
- Marlon Samuels averages 33 in his ODI career, but 75 in India. He looks to be struggling at the moment, though.
- In seven ODIs at Visakhapatnam, the team that has lost the toss has never won.
Prediction
India are a formidable ODI force at home, and it is difficult to see how West Indies can execute well enough to level the series.
I predict Virat Kohli will reach his 10,000th ODI run in this game, and India will win to take a 2-0 series lead.
Thanks for reading!
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