Bangalore: New Zealand over the years has played the role of underdogs to perfection, a tag that suits them perfectly, taming sides like Australia and West Indies in the past with their all-round performance and should not be taken lightly at any level. At the end of the day one should credit the Kiwis for taking one-day cricket to the next level.
Mark Greatbatch redefined opening the batting at the top of the order while Dipak Patel spun the world to surprise by sharing the new ball a couple of decades back.
New Zealand can be a very difficult and unpredictable side at times and more so when they are playing at home. England just about got out of jail against the Black Caps last year and India might just find themselves in a spot of bother if they are complacent in this tour.
Indian batting up for another test against spirited Kiwis
Kiwis would look to tighten their grip in the series which has all the making of a very interesting contest.
Here is a look at the battles within the battle for the second ODI between India and New Zealand:
Shikhar Dhawan vs Tim Southee: Shikhar Dhawan’s good run with the bat has come to a halt as he keeps throwing his wicket away after getting off to a start. Dhawan has the ability to get his team off to a flier and his form with the bat can turn out to be decisive at the end of the series. Tim Southee has the knack of striking early with the new ball and can swing it back to the left-hander which will always keep him in business against the left-hander.
Virat Kohli vs MJ McClenaghan: Virat Kohli is by far the best one-day player at the moment and has taken his game to the next level. Known to be a very good timer of the cricket ball, Kohli would look to give it back to the Kiwis and his form with the bat in hand makes him the player to watch out for in the series. McClenaghan on the other hand would be looking to get the priced scalp of Kohli as he did in the first ODI but this time it has to be a good ball. Kohli is too good a player to get out of a full toss more than once in a series.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni vs Nathan McCullum: The Indian captain has been slightly off colour in the recent past with the bat in hand and would be looking to make the most of the opportunities in the series. Dhoni is a dangerous one-day player and can take the game away from the opposition in no time and as long as he is at the crease, Kiwis can’t afford to breathe easy. McCullum on the other hand will have his work cut out as Indians are known to be very good players of spin bowling. Dhoni would look to go after the off-spinner which will always keep him in the game.
Jesse Ryder vs Mohammad Shami: Jesse Ryder can score runs at a brisk pace and has the ability to set up the game for the middle order. Ryder has always been an attacking player and Mohammad Shami would be tested with the new ball although he got the better of him in the last match. Shami bowls a heavy ball and can move it both ways that can rattle the best of players.
Ross Taylor vs Ravindra Jadeja: Ross Taylor was in pretty good nick in the first one-day and would look to carry on the same momentum in the second match. Taylor has a technique of his own and it comes good more often than not. Ravindra Jadeja would look to fire it in and get through his overs as quickly as possible and it would not come as a surprise if the man at mid-wicket is kept busy all this while.
Corey Anderson vs R Ashwin: Corey Anderson has made a name for himself in the New Year and what we have seen so far can be good for New Zealand cricket. Anderson can hit the ball a long way and keeps it simple with the ball in hand which keeps him in the thick of things most of the times. R Ashwin will try to make life difficult for Anderson by mixing it up with the old ball and the best way to keep a player like Anderson quiet is by sending him back in the hut.
Having said all that from whatever little we have seen of Anderson it goes to show that he is ready to milk the cash rich cow that is the Indian Premier League.
