AHMEDABAD, Feb 8: Focus will be on vice-captain K L Rahul’s batting position on his return from a short break as a buoyant India aim for another demolition act against the West Indies in the second ODI to seal the three-match series here on Wednesday.
The India spin duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Washington Sundar ran riot as they shot out West Indies for a meagre 176 and then skipper Rohit Sharma bossed the chase with a blistering 60, as the hosts recorded an easy six-wicket win in the lung-opener at the Motera.
Ishan Kishan, who opened in the first ODI, did a decent job with a 36-ball 28.
But with Rahul being available from this game onwards, it remains to be seen whether the wristy Karnataka batter opens along with the skipper or plays in the middle order on a relatively slow track. Rahul skipped the first ODI for a personal engagement.
If Rahul bats in the middle order then debutant Deepak Hooda might have to sit out as the team cannot afford to tinker with the order comprising Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant and Suryakumar Yadav.
On the bowling front, India dished out a clinical show as the spin duo of Chahal and Washington ran through an unimpressive West Indies line-up. It remains to be seen if one of the two tweakers is dropped and left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav makes his way into the playing XI.
The West Indies, on the other hand, will look to forget the hammering and eye improvement in all departments. Sunday was the 10th time in the last 16 games that West Indies failed to bat a full 50 overs.
All-rounder Jason Holder said, “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.”
The team from the Caribbean also possesses hard-hitters including Nicolas Pooran and Pollard.
India
Rohit Sharma (C), KL Rahul (VC), Mayank Agarwal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Surya Kumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan (WK), Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant (WK), Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Avesh Khan, Shahrukh Khan.
West Indies
Kieron Pollard (C), 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.
Match starts at 1.30 pm. (PTI)
