India look to seal series against West Indies

NT Correspondent

Focus will be on vice-captain KL 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 threematch 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 lungopener at the Motera.

Rohit, India looked a completely overhauled unit after being whitewashed in South Africa and the team would certainly want to continue from where it left of on Sunday night. 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 comeback.

He would be raring to take the listless West Indies attack to 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. 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.

The West Indies, on the other hand, will look to forget the hammering and eye improved show in an all the departments, especially batting. Sunday was the 10th time in the last 16 games that West Indies failed to bat a full 50 overs.

The Kieron Pollard-led side needs to get that aspect sorted and as pointed out by experienced all-rounder Jason Holder, the batters need to put a bigger prize on their wicket. “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.

Kohli will look to play ‘un-Kohli’ innings

The game is also crucial for Kohli, who is enduring a lean patch and would like to get that 71st hundred that has been in waiting for over two years. Kohli’s innings in the first ODI was un-Kohli like in the extreme. The first ball was edged for four, while the second was upper-cut with the same result - although not perfectly timed.

Suryakumar just wants to be Suryakumar

“Michael Bevan, huh?” Suryakumar Yadav laughed off the suggestion that “people had started labelling him as a finisher”, just like the former Australia batter. “Sir, I’ve just played five games. Or maybe seven,” he responded with a grin. “Let me remain Suryakumar Yadav. Even if I bat first, I will do the same things, I will try to express (myself) and be fearless as I always am.”

Dhawan, Iyer train after recovering from Covid

Senior opener Shikhar Dhawan and Shreyas Iyer, who had tested positive for Covid-19 last week, had a light training session on Tuesday evening after recovering and completing their isolation period. It is highly unlikely that they will be straight away drafted into the playing XI for the second ODI, which is scheduled to be held on Wednesday.