IND vs NZ 2nd ODI Playing 11
The Indian team was high on confidence coming into the ODI series. They had won yet another bilateral T20I series. India’s ODI squad though bore a slightly different look. The team had lost all three ODIs the last time they toured New Zealand. India sure knew they had a challenge up their sleeves. This series in all fairness would kickstart India’s preparation for the 2023 ODI World Cup. Let us look at IND vs NZ 2nd ODI Playing 11 in detail.
How did the team fare in the first ODI?
The opening act:
India batted first having lost the toss. Openers Shikhar Dhawan and Shubman Gill got off to a sedate start. India put on 40 runs without loss in the first 10 overs. They should ideally upped the ante on a flat wicket after the first five overs itself. Dhawan did catch up though post the drinks break. India’s momentum was halted when they lost Gill and Dhawan in successive overs (23 and 24).
The middle trouble:
Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant batting at number 3 and 4 respectively failed to push on the accelerator. The duo couldn’t force the pace whatsoever. They failed to rotate the strike forget scoring boundaries. It was this phase that eventually cost the side 25-30 runs. Pant soon lost his wicket. Suryakumar Yadav got out after hitting a boundary. It was upto Iyer and Sanju Samson to resurrect the innings.
The final flourish:
India went in with 7 batters and a bowling allrounder. Despite such batting cushion the team held back for the longest time. It was Washington Sundar who provided the final blitz walking in at number 7. If not for his cameo India would have struggled to get past even 300. They ended up with 306 but it was clearly an under-par score on a wicket that was flat and had short boundaries.
New Zealand’s response:
The Indian bowling attack had the better of the kiwi batting in the first 20 overs. They had picked up three wickets reducing the home side to 88-3. Kane Williamson kept nudging but never looked threatening. It was the arrival of Tom Latham that changed the momentum of the game completely. He cut, pull, drove, swept and reverse-swept with panache. Latham stroked a 104-ball 145 that took New Zealand home with 2.3 overs to spare.
What changes should India make to their playing XI?
India’s balance appeared to be skewed right when the team was announced at the toss. They went in with just 5 bowlers. This decision ultimately cost them heavily. India will be better served to go in with six bowling options.
The team doesn’t have the riches of batting allrounders barring Deepak Hooda. It is a must win game hence it is expected that the team will ring in the necessary changes.
Our predicted changes:
Rishabh Pant has looked woefully out of form on this tour. He could do with a break with Deepak Hooda coming in his place. India could also look to rest Surya for the remainder of the series.
He is one of the only certainties in India’s full time white ball team. Hence resting him will make cricketing sense too. The team is likely to bring in Deepak Chahar in place of Shardul Thakur. Kuldeep Yadav could replace Yuzvendra Chahal.
StumpsandBails predicted Indian XI:
- Shikhar Dhawan (C)
- Shubman Gill
- Shreyas Iyer
- Rishabh Pant / Suryakumar Yadav
- Sanju Samson
- Washington Sundar
- Deepak Chahar
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Arshdeep Singh
- Umran Malik
