We preview the second T20 International between India and the West Indies.
A depleted Windies outfit were handed a spanking in the series opener at Eden Gardens, with a batting failure at the heart of the defeat.
As badly as the West Indies batted, credit has to go to India spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Krunal Pandya, who were excellent.
India vs West Indies | Tuesday, 6 November | Ekana International Cricket Stadium | 15:30
To Win Match
India 31/100
Tie 35/1
West Indies 5/2
India
India would not have been too pleased with their effort with the bat at Eden Gardens, where they made heavy weather of a target of 110. The absence of Virat Kohli in the middle order was felt. It will be up to Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan to make up for the rested skipper with great starts.
Playing as a batsman only, Rishabh Pant flopped in the middle order, while Dinesh Karthik thrived with the gloves and a lower-order position. Pant has been earmarked as the future white-ball wicketkeeper, but there are clearly concerns about his glovework.
Krunal Pandya seized the opportunity to show that he can do what he does for the Mumbai Indians in an India shirt. He finished off a jittery chase with calm assurance and flair, having taking one for 15 in four overs earlier in the game. Krunal will know that one swallow doesn’t make a summer and he will want to follow up his Kolkata display with more good work in Lucknow.
In the middle-order, Manish Pandey really needs to impress in the remaining T20Is to keep out a growing list of exciting young white-ball batsmen.
West Indies
The West Indies top-order hade a makeshift look to it despite the presence of in-form batsmen Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer. Denesh Ramdin made little impact opening the batting while Kieron Pollard struggled for 26 balls to carve out just 14.
The surface may not have been ideal, but the West Indies did a poor job of assessing the surface and responding.
The power players – Pollard, Rovman Powell and Carlos Brathwaite – struggled to keep the scoreboard ticking over when boundaries were hard to come by in Kolkata. The lower-order need to ensure they keep scoring at the death or there really is little point to batting out the allotted overs.
Keemo Paul, Pollard and Fabian Allen were disappointing with the ball and cost the team a shot at making the game very close. The trio conceded 53 runs off the 35 balls they bowled, whereas Brathwaite, Oshane Thomas and Khary Pierre conceded just 48 runs from 12 overs and took five wickets between them.
The West Indies should not shy away from axing superstar players who don’t pull their weight – and should be having a word with Pollard about his performance in particular.
Verdict: India 31/100
The West Indies are normally good in the shortest format, but appear disorganised and unsure of their roles. India are a stark contrast. They all seem sure of what needs to be done – and they should have the quality to clinch the series in Lucknow.
