2nd ODI Live: Virat Kohli opts to bowl against New Zealand

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OVERS 5.3: FOUR! Guptill ducks to a bouncer from Bumrah but the ball hits his gloves and goes flying to the third man fence

OVERS 4.3: FOUR! Nicholls straight drives down the ground with the bounce for the first boundary of the match. New Zealand 15/0

OVERS 4.1: Nicholls flicks a Thakur delivery to deep mid-wicket for three runs

Jasprit Bumrah shares the new ball with Thakur

OVER 0.1: A leg bye is conceded first up, the Kiwis are underway

Martin Guptill and Henry Nicholls open the batting for New Zealand, Shardul Thakur bowls the first over for India

Virat Kohli says that it looks like a pretty hard wicket and the new balls might do a bit. Observes that the straighter boundaries are small here, so defending would be difficult. Also remembers India’s manner of victory in the first T20I at this venue, so all these account into the decision. Praises the Kiwis for batting well in the previous ODI and not wanting to blame his players for the loss, just wants the intensity to be maintained throughout the game. On the team changes, Kohli informs that Mohammed Shami has been rested with Test cricket coming up after this series. Adds that Shami is one of India’s main bowlers, so wants him to be fresh. Is excited to have Navdeep Saini as his replacement. Informs the other change as Yuzvendra Chahal coming in for Kuldeep Yadav, with the main reason being that Chahal has been out of ODIs for a long time, hence is being played tonight.

New Zealand captain Tom Latham says that he too, was looking to bowl first. Fingers crossed, he hopes to bat well again and put up a big total on the board. On the previous win, Tom says that it is a great feeling to have after a forgetful T20I series. Wants his unit to keep learnings from that game, especially with the ball. On the team changes, Latham says that Mark Chapman is featuring tonight, because Mitchell Santner pulled up with a sore back. On the other change, Tom says that Kyle Jamieson makes his ODI debut in place of Ish Sodhi, who is no more a part of the squad. Is excited to feature Jamieson’s raw pace.

TOSS: Virat Kohli won the toss and put New Zealand in to bat

India (Playing XI): Prithvi Shaw, Mayank Agarwal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Kedar Jadhav, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Navdeep Saini, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah

New Zealand (Playing XI): Martin Guptill, Henry Nicholls, Tom Blundell, Ross Taylor, Tom Latham, James Neesham, Colin de Grandhomme, Tim Southee, Mark Chapman, Kyle Jamieson, Hamish Bennett

PITCH REPORT: Simon Doull observes a few patches of grass on the surface but believes that the ball has to be really short to make the batsmen hop. Expects spinners to travel the distance on what looks like a very good surface. Expects the ball to do a bit in the first 30 minutes but after that, predicts batting to be easier.

WEATHER: There is some rain forecast for this game but as of now, it is bright and sunny. Hopefully, it stays that way.

Some of their bowling and fielding frailties exposed in the series-opener, India will aim for quick course correction against New Zealand in the second ODI.

Flying high after the 5-0 whitewash of New Zealand in the T20 series, India were brought to the ground after the hosts took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series with a four-wicket win in the first ODI.

The Black Caps chased down their highest-ever total in ODI cricket at Seddon Park and the toss will be crucial once again at the even shorter Eden Park where the side batting second will have a clear advantage.
New Zealand opted to bat here in both the T20Is, but India chased well in both instances albeit in different circumstances.
India find themselves in a familiar situation after the loss in Hamilton. But the visitors have come from behind against the West Indies and Australia to win their last two ODI series and Virat Kohli’s men will look to do the same here.
Like in Chennai against the West Indies, or in Mumbai against Australia, India’s loss at Hamilton was down to their lack of ability to take wickets in the middle overs.
Source : timesofindia

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