🏏India vs West Indies: 2nd ODI at Kensington Oval - 29/07/2023🏏 - Page 3

West Indies won the toss and opted to bowl.

It is good, at least we'll be able to see 200+ score on board!

With a comprehensive victory over their hosts in the first ODI in Barbados, India will look to sew up the series against the West Indies by repeating the trick at the Kensington Oval on Saturday, July 29. The series provides an important preparatory opportunity for India as they try and decide their combinations, with the all-important Asia Cup and ODI World Cup approaching. While the 5-wicket victory was comfortable following a devastating spell by Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav, India will want time in the middle for their middle-order batters, who still remain in flux. The bowling health of Hardik Pandya and Umran Malik will be key as well. For the hosts under Shai Hope, beginning to rebuild with good performances and results is key. The disappointment of missing out on a World Cup berth has to be buried, and they will try to give India a run for their money in Barbados.

After winning the toss, WI captain Hope said, "We are going to bowl first, we saw what happened in the last game. The conditions will assist the bowlers. We got two games to play, so we got to win this one to stay alive. It has been a bit unpredictable. Both teams have to play on the same surface. We got to bowl first and put them under pressure. Powell, Drakes is out, Alzarri and Keacy are in."

The Barbados pitch on Thursday saw seamers get a lot of carry while spinners received turn even with the new ball. If the same pitch is there in the second ODI, both teams could try an extra spinner. Also there is a 50 percent chance of rain!

Ravindra Jadeja six wickets away from milestone

Jadeja is six wickets away from reaching 200 dismissals in ODI cricket. In doing so, he will become the third Indian spinner to reach the landmark, after Kumble and Harbhajan. He is also three scalps from crossing Venkatesh's tally of 196 wickets.

Kuldeep Yadav in good form

Kuldeep returned to ODIs in January this year and has taken 19 wicket sin nine matches, at an average of 17 and 5.25 economy rate. Among spinners from Full-Member nations, only Hasaranga and Theekshana have more wickets than Kuldeep during this period in ODI cricket.

Heartening to watch Rohit backing the opening pair of Ishan & Gill says Parthiv Patel

What did Kuldeep Yadav say?

Kuldeep bagged a four-wicket haul in the first ODI. Speaking after the match, he said, "Since my return from injury last year, I've been trying to consistently bowl the right lengths. Sometimes you get wickets, sometimes you don't even when you bowl well, but length is very crucial especially for the spinners. When the opposition loses a few wickets, then I try my variations for wickets. Happy with the way I started in the first ODI."

What's the batting line-up today?

Shakera Selman and Daren Ganga are pitchside. Ganga says that the boundaries are pretty much the same, and it is the same pitch used in the first ODI. Selman adds that a lot of grass has been rolled into the deck and bowlers might get some extra bounce.

Ganga then informs that there was variable bounce last time around and that it might be the same yet again, along with the dominance of spinners. Selman ends by saying that the batters will face a stern challenge, but the firmness might allow them to score a bit easier.