India will take on Zimbabwe in the 2nd ODI with an aim to seal the series. India dominated the first ODI, winning it by a massive margin of 10 wickets. There were many positives for India in that game including return of Deepak Chahar among wickets and Shubman Gill smashing a 72-ball 82. Indian captain KL Rahul would hope to get some valuable batting time as the Indian team is expected to recalibrate its goals to create some challenge for itself in the remaining two ODIs against Zimbabwe. The gulf between the two teams would always make these kind of bilateral contests lopsided but bigger goal for the ‘Men In Blue’ would be to push the limits. The immediate target for the side would be to try and bat first in case Rahul wins the toss in Saturday’s second ODI.
The early start on a bouncy track and sufficient nip in the air would pose some challenge for the batters. There won’t be any Jimmy Anderson or Josh Hazlewood in operation but even then battling the conditions would be a good test for Rahul and his players.
A brilliant comeback for @deepak_chahar9 as he is adjudged Player of the Match for his bowling figures of 3/27 __#TeamIndia go 1-0 up in the three-match ODI series.#ZIMvIND pic.twitter.com/HowMse2blr
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 18, 2022
Deepak Chahar had pointed out after the first game that there is little help for the bowlers during the second session and the only time there’s some challenge for batters is the first hour of the match.
Before facing the might of Shaheen Shah Afridi in Asia Cup, a morning session with deliveries moving both sides, albeit with a gentle pace, would be decent enough extended net session for Rahul.
While ‘Captain Rahul’ showed his elder statesman like qualities by letting Shikhar Dhawan and Shubman Gill open in the first game, the ‘Batter Rahul’ also needs to get his priorities right before the Asia Cup.
He needs to quickly adapt to Team India’s “attack at all costs from the onset" philosophy and that can’t just happen overnight.
Against a side like Zimbabwe, which is not good enough to even challenge a top Indian domestic side, Rahul would get an ideal opportunity to experiment with his batting.
The IND vs ZIM second ODI match will be played at the Harare Sports Club on Saturday, August 20, at 12:45 pm IST.
Captain: Axar Patel
Vice-Captain: Shubman Gill
Wicketkeepers: Sanju Samson, Regis Chakabva
Batters: Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Innocent Kaia
All-rounders: Axar Patel, Sikandar Raza, Deepak Hooda
Bowlers: Deepak Chahar, Luke Jongwe, Victor Nyauchi
India Predicted XI: Shikhar Dhawan, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul (c), Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson (wk), Deepak Hooda, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Kuldeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna
Zimbabwe Predicted XI: Tadiwanashe Marumani, Sean Williams, Innocent Kaia, Wessly Madhevere, Sikandar Raza, Regis Chakabva (c & wk), Tony Munyonga, Luke Jongwe, Richard Ngarava, Brad Evans, Victor Nyauchi
With PTI inputs
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