India look to level the series in Pune

After being defeated by New Zealand in the first ODI, India will look to bounce back in the second ODI in Pune. The Black Caps though are on the brink of creating history.

Date and Time : 25 October 2017, 1:30 PM (IST)

Venue : MCA Stadium, Pune

Except that Virat Kohli hundred nothing positive happened for India in Mumbai ODI. It is fair to say that they were completely outplayed in every department by the Kiwis.

Team India will need to quickly overcome their weaknesses in order to make a comeback on Wednesday. As for New Zealand they have at least for now overcome their weaknesses in the Subcontinent.

Tom Latham have really been their go to man, while Ross Taylor supported him aptly. Trent Boult have also been one of their main reasons that they defeated India in Indian conditions so confidently.

One of the weaknesses of India is facing left arm pacers. It has been quite evident this year as they struggled against Mohammed Amir in the Champions Trophy final and now Trent Boult.

Team news and possible line-ups

I don’t think New Zealand is going to make any changes to their side from the Mumbai ODI that won the game.

As for India, they after loosing the last game might be tempted to play Axar Patel in place of Kuldeep Yadav. That might be specifically to counter Latham, who sweeps brilliantly.

Other than that I think the team will remain the same.

New Zealand XI : Guptill, Munro, Williamson, R. Taylor, Latham, Nicholls, Grandhomme, Santner, Southee, Milne, Boult.

India XI : R. Sharma, Dhawan, Kohli, D. Karthik, Jadhav, Dhoni, H. Pandya, A. Patel, B. Kumar, Chahal, Bumrah.

Prediction

After their performance in the first one-dayer, New Zealand are the favorites for this game. But since India have been playing some good cricket in recent times plus the home advantage, don’t write the Indians off. I think India will bounce back on Wednesday.