India to play West Indies in second ODI, Pollard set to play

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ASHIM

08 June, 2011

India looks all set to play against West Indies in the second ODI later today. The Indian team comprises of new faces that defeated the West Indies in the first ODI.

AFTER A convincing victory against West Indies in the first ODI at Port of Spain, the young look Indian team is set for the second ODI, which will be played later today.

The present Indian team looks more like an ‘India A’ team, with lots of new faces. Most of its players do not have huge experience to bank upon, but their performances in the domestic season paved the way for them into the Indian team. Players such as Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma came up with good half centuries, which helped their team in turning victorious. Kohli and Raina must have been disappointed with their performances during their last game so they would be eager to score big in the second ODI. Harbhajan Singh, one of the most senior players in the squad for the tour of West Indies also grabbed three wickets in the first ODI.

The absence of senior players such as Sachin, Sehwag, and Yuvraj was not felt in the second string Indian side as they were not troubled by the West Indian bowlers. The West Indian team is also not in full strength, as their best batsmen Chris Gayle is not even in the squad. Ramnaresh Sarwan openly declared that the West Indian team misses Gayle’s services. Kemar Roach, their quickie, was also out of action in the first ODI. Their batsmen must deliver the goods as Darren Sammy, the skipper of the West Indies team said that it was their batsmen who did not put enough runs on the board for India to chase, which led to their defeat.

Both teams are eager to come up and play a good brand of cricket, which would help their team in winning. The West Indies needs to pull up its socks if they are to fight against a confident Indian team. West Indies would be under pressure as they are playing on home soil. They are expected to win. Thus, they might be looking to bring in some changes that played the first ODI. Raoch and Pollard might make it to the starting 11, which would strengthen their team. The Indian team would not like to break a winning combination of their first 11 unless someone suffers an injury.

Though the Indian team may not have played at its best in the first ODI, still they have taken a 1–0 lead in the best of 5 series. A victory in the second ODI would bring them closer in wrapping up the series.