India vs England | Predicted XI for second ODI at Lord’s
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The way India dismantled the famed English ODI side at Trent Bridge showed the intent of the Virat Kohli-led team to win the next summer’s World Cup in England. Another trial by spin will await this English team as India will try to seal the series when they face England at Lord’s today.
After four straight sunny day matches, Lord’s is expected to throw an odd-ball, but it will remain mostly sunny throughout. Spinners may not get more purchase at the venue.
Openers:
Shikhar Dhawan: An England tour always brings happy memories for the Indian southpaw and he brushed off the dirt off his shirt to score a fluid 40 off 27 balls in the first ODI in Nottingham. He is just one big score away from making a statement of intent and once he is back to his best, it can send shivers down the spines of the hosts.Â
Rohit Sharma: In the first ODI, the Indian vice-captain picked apart pretty much everything in range to score his second consecutive century of the tour. Everyone knows what Rohit is capable of if he is provided such flat-beds and if England
Middle-order:
Virat Kohli: The Indian skipper seems like a man on a mission - both as a leader and as a batsman. Alongside his deputy, he played himself in and didn’t shed character until the 33rd over on his way to score a commendable 75. Considering the fact that he hasn’t been much successful at the historic venue - making 41 runs in three innings (one Test and one ODI) - he will be eagerly waiting to grace the venue with his artistry.Â
KL Rahul: Now that it is certain that the Karnataka batsman would continue batting at No.4, he will try to be the anchor of the innings if the need arises. The Indian top-three is as good as anyone in the world and Rahul’s ability to clear the fence with proper orthodox shots makes him a quality batsman in the middle and death overs. A change in role, but much bigger responsibility too.Â
Suresh Raina: The Chennai Super Kings No.3’s numbers in the lower order are pretty impressive: batting between 5-7, Raina has 4347 runs at an average of 35.05 and a strike rate of 94.00 with four
MS Dhoni: The former Indian skipper is just 33 runs away from completing 10,000 ODI runs and will become the 12th batsman and fourth Indian to enter the elite club. While it will be another record to establish the legend of MS Dhoni, he is more important for the team behind the stumps as England have learnt tin a hard way so far.
All-rounder:
Hardik Pandya: At a time, when bowlers are being openly mocked for the choice of their vocation in the sport, Hardik has the ability to throw in surprises and the last T20I in Bristol was an example. However, he couldn’t do the same in the first ODI and conceded 47 runs in 6 overs and was taken out by Jos Buttler. Also, his swashbuckling hitting abilities give him a brownie point on the flattened English batting conditions.
Spinners:Â
Kuldeep Yadav: The left-arm wrist-spinner was the kryptonite to England’s batsmen in Nottingham, where the batsmen have reigned supreme in recent times. Kuldeep displayed his sleight of hand, bamboozling six of England’s top batsmen to return with career-best figures of 6 for 25. The hosts will be wary of him because it is do-or-die for them anyway.
Yuzvendra Chahal: The RCB spinner didn’t have to do much in the first game as his partner-in-crime wrecked havoc, but considering England’s frailties against the wrist-spinners, he needs to be at the best of his form to haunt the Englishmen in pairs.Â
Pacers:
Umesh Yadav: From being exceptionally good in the T20s to really lacklustre in the ODIs, the life has come full circle for Umesh Yadav. The pacer was tidy in line and length but failed to test Jason Roy (38) and Jonny Bairstow (38) and ended up conceding 70 runs in his 10 overs. But, the absence of Jasprit Bumrah means his spot is not in danger, but he needs to pull up the socks in the Lord’s game.Â
Siddarth Kaul: In the first few overs of the first ODI, Siddarth Kaul did an excellent job of keeping the ball at the good and back of length areas. Knowing bowling full could be dangerous, he restrained from doing that. But, after that, he lost his length and was taken for cleaners. Filling the shoes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar is a colossal task and he should forget the aberration to come out all guns blazing.
