🏏India vs New Zealand, 2nd ODI - SVNSI Stadium, Raipur21/01/23 🏏

🏏India vs New Zealand, 2nd ODI -  SVNSI Stadium, Raipur21/01/23 🏏

After a closely contested affair in the first ODI, team India (IND) will look to clinch the series in the second ODI against New Zealand (NZ) at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur. 

The Men in Blue currently have the lead 1-0 in the three-match series after emerging victorious in the previous contest in Hyderabad. 

The BlackCaps will need to obtain a win in the forthcoming fixture if they are to keep any hopes alive of clinching the series. 

However, with back-to-back wins in the 50-over format, India will be keen to wrap up the series in Raipur  today. 

While another trophy is now within their grasp, India's major focus will continue to be on building the ideal side for the World Cup. 

In the absence of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, the team management would hope the likes of Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav get more time out in the middle. 

As things stand, these two appear to be the backup for the top five. Unless they grab their opportunities, that scenario might change by the time the World Cup gets closer.

Not often do batters follow up a double-century with another big knock. Can Shubman Gill break that trend? You wouldn't count that against him given his last three scores prior to the double ton are 116, 21 and 70. 

While the batting lineup does look extremely strong at the moment, India's focus will be on their bowlers. A few days ago, they allowed Dasun Shanaka to score big while rallying alongside the tail. And in Hyderabad, they were again on top at one stage but couldn't get that decisive wicket for a long time which would have put them in the driver's seat.

While Michael Bracewell has pretty much sealed his World Cup spot well in advance, Finn Allen has some work to do. The selectors ditched Martin Guptill and placed a lot of faith on Allen with the future in mind. Allen has made starts but converting them is essential in the ODI format.

It is going to be an interesting contest between two competent teams. 

Team News

India

Rajat Patidar might have to wait as the hosts will look to stick to the same combination. Shardul Thakur gives India a handy batting option at No.8 so Umran Malik won't find it easy to force his way back in.

Predicted XI- Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma (C), Virat Kohli, Ishan Kishan (WK), Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Mohammad Siraj

New Zealand

The visitors might stick with the same XI as well. At the most, a change might be in store in the bowling department.

Predicted XI- Finn Allen, Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham (c & wk), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner, Henry Shipley/Doug Bracewell, Lockie Ferguson, Blair Tickner

What to expect: No rain is expected during the game with moderate temperatures set to welcome both sides. The surface will carry a bit of mystery given the venue hasn't hosted international cricket yet.

India and New Zealand put on a show in Hyderabad in the opening ODI of the series where the visitors staged a dramatic comeback to almost pull off a heist. 

As much as it's hard to replicate it in the very next game, Raipur would absolutely wish for something closer to that as they brace themselves to host their first-ever international match. 

Playing host to an epic game would help them in their bid to secure more international matches in the future going ahead, which could turn out to be a spectacle given the stadium can accommodate over 60000 people.

 It was runs galore in Hyderabad with Michael Bracewell nearly threatening to upstage Shubham Gill's double hundred. Having had the visitors on the rocks, India were given a reality check by Bracewell as the left-hander nearly pulled off a remarkable victory. 

A double hundred, a hundred and a fifty were scored - a total of 686 runs were scored and the bowlers were on a hiding for nothing, except Mohammed Siraj, who registered back-to-back 4-wicket hauls. The series now moves across to Raipur - a venue hosting its first-ever One Day International - India are looking for a series win while the visitors will hope to keep the series alive.

'The 50th venue to host an ODI in India, it has huge boundaries on all sides of the ground. The pitch itself has an even covering of grass and there are some cracks on it. It's hard, there is some bounce on offer and should help the pacers. 

Dew could be a factor and the captain winning the toss could choose to field first. It is an excellent batting surface though', observe Murali Kartik and Grant Elliot, in their pitch report.

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Teams:

New Zealand (Playing XI): Finn Allen, Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham(w/c), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner, Henry Shipley, Lockie Ferguson, Blair Tickner

India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Ishan Kishan(w), Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj

India have won the toss and have opted to field

Tom Latham - We would have bowled first as well, 1st international game here, so not sure how this wicket will play. Great last game, executed well in the bat and hoping to do the same here. Looking to take back the experience, it's important to win games, but the experience of playing in these conditions will be handy as well. Ish (Sodhi) hasn't still pulled up well, so we're playing the same team.

​Rohit Sharma - I forgot what we wanted to do, had plenty of discussions with the team about the toss decision, just wanted to challenge ourselves under difficult conditions, but we'll bowl first. Was a good test for us, knowing that the wicket will get better to bat on and that was the challenge in front of us. Bracewell batted well, but we bowled well in the end and won the game. There was a bit of dew during the practice sessions, but we've heard from the curator that it will not play a role on game days. We batted first in Hyderabad, we wanted to bowl first here, same team.

Pitch Report by Murali Kartik and Grant Elliot

'The 50th venue to host an ODI in India, it has huge boundaries on all sides of the ground. The pitch itself has an even covering of grass and there are some cracks on it. It's hard, there is some bounce on offer and should help the pacers. Dew could be a factor and the captain winning the toss could choose to field first. It is an excellent batting surface though'

The key strength of India had been its batting order and they crossed 350 runs in the previous four matches when they batted first. The batsmen of India play aggressive cricket and this strategy worked for the side. The batsmen of team India play more aggressively in their home conditions. 

The key batters of India like Virat Kohli and Shubhman Gill had been in superb form and had scored back-to-back hundreds. Rohit Sharma also had been good and his six-hitting capability had improved. SK Yadav and Ishan Kishan are other batsmen who can put a big total on the board for India in this match. 

Ishan Kishan is not playing as an opener and that is the main reason why he was not much impressive in the previous match.

Mohammad Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav had been good among the bowlers. These both bowlers picked wickets in each and every match they played. Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur were part of the playing eleven of the previous match and we think that Umran Malik will get a chance to play this match. Remember that India scored 349 runs in the first ODI. Shubman Gill was the most successful batsman scoring 208 runs on 149 balls with the help of 19 boundaries and nine huge sixes. 

Rohit Sharma scored 34 runs. Mohammed Siraj was the most successful bowler picking four wickets in ten overs against 46 runs. Kuldeep Yadav also performed well and picked up two wickets in eight overs while he was charged with 43 runs. 

Shardul Thakur also picked two wickets while Shardul Thakur and Hardik Pandya picked one wicket each.