2nd ODI: KL Rahul’s batting position in focus as confident India aim to seal series against West Indies

Rohit Sharma-led India will look to continue their domination to seal the three-match series when they take on West Indies in the second ODI at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Wednesday. The focus will be on vice-captain KL Rahul’s batting position, who joined the team after a family engagement and was seen sweating it out in the nets ahead of the game.

Speaking on the eve of the match, middle-order batter Suryakumar also didn’t reveal much about the inclusion of Rahul and Mayank Agarwal in the playing XI.

“They [Rahul and Mayank] are coming back into the squad after quarantine and it makes our unit really stronger. At the end of the day, it’s all team management’s call on who’s gonna play. But yeah, really happy to have them back,” Surya said in a virtual press conference.

Preparations #TeamIndia gearing up for the 2nd @Paytm #INDvWI ODI pic.twitter.com/p3Y2uTS5fA

— BCCI (@BCCI) February 8, 2022

Talking about the batting template in ODIs, Suryakumar said: “I think we have kept things really simple, we are going to bat in the same way we did in the first ODI. When we bat first, we have to go all the way and try and post a defendable score. The way we batted in the last game was perfect, the tempo and intensity were nice. There is nothing to change.”

Virat Kohli would like to get among the runs and reach his 71st century, which has been waiting for over two years. The biggest positive for India is that Rohit, who had missed the South Africa series due to a hamstring injury, was in brilliant form on his comeback. He would be raring to take the listless West Indies attack to the cleaners once again. Ditto for Ishan Kishan, who opened with Rohit in the first ODI, and did a decent job with a 36-ball 28.

The hosts, if they bat first, would certainly also like to set a target, as they build-up for next year’s World Cup.

In the bowling department, India had a clinical outing in the previous game, so the team management is unlikely to make any changes. The likes of Washington Sundar, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal, Prasidh Krishna, Shardul Thakur had restricted visitors to a below-par target in the first ODI..

“We got to dig deeper. I don’t think we are too far off to be fair. Our top-order just needs to go a little deeper, put a heavier prize on their wicket, and just get themselves a really good chance,” Holder had said.

Teams (From):

India: Rohit Sharma (captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Mayank Agarwal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Surya Kumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan, Shahrukh Khan.

West Indies: Kieron Pollard (captain), Fabian Allen, Nkrumah Bonner, Darren Bravo, Shamarh Brooks, Jason Holder, Shai Hope, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King, Nicolas Pooran, Kemar Roach, Romario Shepard, Odean Smith, Hayden Walsh Jr.