India will meet New Zealand in the second one-day international of the three-match series at Rajkot’s Niranjan Shah Stadium. The event will take place on Wednesday, January 14.
India now leads the rubber 1-0 after winning the first match by four wickets in Vadodara. The Men in Blue have recently been in terrific form in the 50-over format and are clear favourites to win the series, but they must be tactically sound if they are to secure the victory.
India squad for the New Zealand ODI series: Shubman Gill (c), Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), Ayush Badoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Shreyas Iyer, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj.
New Zealand squad for the India ODI series: Michael Bracewell (c), Adi Ashok, Kristian Clarke, Josh Clarkson, Devon Conway (wk), Zak Foulkes, Mitch Hay (wk), Kyle Jamieson, Nick Kelly, Jayden Lennox, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, Michael Rae, Will Young.
On that note, here are three things India must get right in the second ODI against New Zealand.
3. India to target New Zealand spinners for a large total in Rajkot
Adi Ashok, Michael Bracewell, and Glenn Phillips were not effective in Vadodara, where the conditions didn’t offer much grip or turn. It should be a good batting surface in Rajkot too, given that Australia made 350-odd in the first innings of their last ODI there.
India need to once again put the Kiwi spinners under pressure. With no left-handers in the lineup besides Ravindra Jadeja, Bracewell and Phillips should be attacked aggressively. Ashok appears to be a promising talent, but he’s inexperienced and can be targeted from the start — just as Virat Kohli did in the first ODI.
2. The Men in Blue should not hesitate to introduce Ravindra Jadeja into the attack
In the first ODI, Ravindra Jadeja was brought into the attack only after New Zealand had right-handers at the crease. However, in Rajkot, even if he has to bowl to Devon Conway and Henry Nicholls, he should be trusted.
Jadeja can challenge the inside edge, and his quicker pace makes him tough to sweep in the middle overs. The left-arm spinner is likely to be one of two spin options, so India can’t afford to be too flexible in his usage. He needs to bowl some overs early in the middle phase.
It will also be an important chance for Jadeja to reaffirm his bowling value to the team, especially with Axar Patel pushing for his spot.
1. India should slot KL Rahul at No. 5
With Washington Sundar injured, India are likely to play either Ayush Badoni or Nitish Kumar Reddy in the middle order. Regardless of who gets the nod, one thing is clear — KL Rahul must bat at his natural No. 5 position.
Rahul at No. 6 doesn’t seem ideal. He’s not the type of batter who can explode from ball one, and entering late in the innings doesn’t suit his style. The right-hander is among the most dependable players against both pace and spin and needs consistent chances to build innings in what may be his best format.
Either Reddy or Badoni can come in at No. 6, with Ravindra Jadeja at No. 7 to provide stability and shield them from Bracewell and Phillips.
