India vs New Zealand 2019 | India’s predicted XI for second ODI in Mount Maunganui

Openers

Rohit Sharma

Since he scored that hundred in a losing cause against Australia in Sydney, Rohit Sharma hasn’t been able to get big scores in ODIs. He was the only Indian player who didn’t perform well in the first ODI in Napier as he was sent back to the hut only for 11. However, the batting-friendly wicket at Bay Oval might help the opener get back to his groove of big scores which the team management must be eying at this stage. 

Shikhar Dhawan

Although he got an unbeaten 75 in the first ODI, Shikhar Dhawan has been tested a lot by the bowlers recently. He will be eyeing to continue his good run in New Zealand and come out of the dark days he suffered in Australia where he got scores of 0, 32 and 23 in the three games. India would like to see both Sharma and Dhawan getting runs at the top to provide India a solid start at the Bay Oval. 

Middle-order

Virat Kohli

A duck in Sydney and then a hundred in India’s winning cause in the very next game, Virat Kohli has got off to starts after that but has a conversion rate which is unlike the normal Kohli. He has got out in his last two outings after getting well set at the crease for scores of 46 and 45. Meanwhile, with two more matches remaining for him in this tour, as the BCCI has rested him for the last two ODIs and the T20I series, he will want to get a couple of big scores which will be a huge confidence boost for the Indian captain. 

Ambati Rayudu

The Indian team management has been backing Ambati Rayudu as the permanent No. 4 for the World Cup but the Hyderabad batsman’s form is a cause of concern for the side. Rayudu had got out for a duck in the first ODI against the Aussies and then scored a rusty-looking 24 in the next outing before he was rested due to injury for the decider. In the first game, he got only 23 balls to play as India was chasing a small total. Being in the scheme of things, Rayudu can look forward to tomorrow’s game to ensure that he is still in the reckoning for the grand event especially with a young talent – Shubman Gill -  waiting on the bench. 

MS Dhoni (WK)

Three matches, three fifties and a Man of the Series award against the Aussies, there is no question about MS Dhoni’s current batting form. The Indian team tested him both at the fifth and the fourth position in Australia, however, the keeper-batsman is yet to face a ball in New Zealand. With Rayudu at four, Dhoni will be seen playing at the fifth position in tomorrow’s match. 

Kedar Jadhav

If there is a utility cricketer in the current squad then it has to be Kedar Jadhav. He has been doing well regularly both with bat and ball whenever he gets a chance. His crucial partnership with Dhoni helped India win the Melbourne ODI while his bowling has been important for Kohli in finishing up the overs as well. Jadhav is the only part-time spinning option left with the Indian skipper at the moment and he will continue to carry on with the role of a proper No.6 in the eleven. 

All-rounder

Vijay Shankar

With the suspension of Hardik Pandya being lifted only on Thursday, he is most likely to be able to join the team only before the third ODI. This means Vijay Shankar will have another chance to prove his all round skills in international cricket. The Tamil Nadu cricketer went for only 19 runs in the four overs that he bowled in the last game and 23 runs against the Aussies at the MCG. He is yet to bat and also waiting to get his maiden ODI wicket. Shankar will definitely want to get a chance to undo his poor performance in the Nidahas Trophy final.  

Pacers

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who has been doing well in the ODIs from the first match of Australia series, might have a tough test like most of the bowlers on the flat Bay Oval track. More than 600 runs have been scored each in the last two matches that have been played at this venue and Kumar will want to lead the bowling unit properly in batting-friendly conditions. 

Mohammed Shami

After some excellent spells of fast bowling both in Tests and the ODIs in Australia, Mohammed Shami was rewarded with a Man of the Match in the previous game for his three-wicket haul. He put India right on top of the game from the very beginning by sending both the openers back into the pavilion during the initial passage of play. As said earlier about the pitch in Mount Maunganui, Shami will also have a tough test as the Kiwi batsmen will know the ground dimensions and the conditions better than anyone else. 

Spinners

Kuldeep Yadav

India went ahead with two wrist spinners and that worked well for them in the previous game as they managed to bowl the Kiwis out for only 157. Yadav scalped four wickets in the last game and none of the New Zealand batsmen was able to read the left-armer from the hand. However, like all the bowlers it will be a tough ask to contain 

Yuzvendra Chahal

Yuzvendra Chahal’s six-for in the final ODI against the Aussies ensured that the team management couldn’t drop him for the first game in New Zealand in Napier and there he backed his MCG performance with another couple of wickets. Chahal’s leg break deliveries were difficult to read for the Kiwi batsmen and so was his wrong-ones and the Haryana spinner will want to continue with the same performance when he will come out to bowl tomorrow. 

Cricket FootBall Kabaddi

Basketball Hockey

SportsCafe