India vs New Zealand 2019: 3 Steps to success for the visitors in the 2nd ODI

India got off to the ideal start at Napier as they dispatched a listless New Zealand side by 8 wickets. Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Shami starred with the ball while Dhawan got some much-needed runs under his belt.

The action now shifts to the Bay Oval in Tauranga as the hosts prepare for a quick response. India, on the other hand, would want to continue with the head of steam they’ve generated over the summer Down Under.

Having lost the 1st ODI to Australia, the Men in Blue have won their last three encounters and would back themselves to see out the series against New Zealand too.

India executed all their plans to perfection at Napier and were handsomely rewarded for their endeavours. Yet the last thing India can do now is rest on their laurels and allow New Zealand a lifeline at the Bay Oval.

Thus, through this article, we would take a look at three mantras India need to keep in mind when they take the field on Saturday.

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#3 Pick early wickets

Shami would again hold the key

At Maclean Park, New Zealand opened with the destructive pair of Guptill and Munro. However, the duo wasn’t able to wreak havoc as Shami nipped them out in a bud with the new ball.

New Zealand is a top-heavy batting side with most of their firepower coming from Guptill, Munro and Williamson. Additionally, the hosts are missing the services of Neesham. With their premier middle-order dasher not in the fray, the top three has gained increased importance.

India is most likely to field Shami and Bhuvneshwar as their front-line seamers. Both are expert at handling the new ball and boast of the ability to swing the ball both ways. Thus, with India’s strength lying in the new ball department, the visitors need to draw first blood at the Bay Oval and dent New Zealand’s batting early.

On several occasions across the globe, teams have struggled to redeem themselves after a poor start and with New Zealand’s over reliance on their top order, it is imperative that India make early inroads and rock the hosts’ boat at the outset.

If the Indian pacers are able to pick up wickets in the power-play, they might just end up ‘swinging’ the match in their favour.

#2 Attack with their spinners

Kuldeep had a field day at Napier

In the 1st ODI, India unleashed their ‘spin twins’, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal. The pair combined to pick up 6 scalps with the former accounting for four batsmen.

There has been a long-standing debate with regards to who India’s two premier spinners should be. The think-tank has fiddled with the idea of a finger-spinner and a wrist spinner each. Yet, with each passing game, it is becoming increasingly likely that two wrist spinners might be the best option.

With Chahal and Kuldeep in the mix, India possesses two genuine wicket-takers and match-winners in the middle phases. Though Jadeja is a top-drawer spinner in his own right, the lad from Saurashtra is a touch less effective in white-ball cricket.

At Napier, the New Zealand batsmen looked at sea against India’s spin twins. With the hosts not expected to chop and change too much, Kuldeep and Chahal would be looking forward to weaving their magic again.

Yet, the only mistake India can make is to be defensive with their spinners. The pair is arguably the visitors’ best wicket-taking option and a failure to attack would definitely prove detrimental to their chances of victory.

#1 Play out the new ball cautiously

All eyes would be on Rohit Sharma

In the game on Wednesday, India were chasing a paltry total of 158. Thus, their openers had time to get their eye in before accelerating. However, if they bat first on Saturday, they might be left with the task of making the play.

Yet, the visitors shouldn’t be too gung-ho in their approach at the top. New Zealand’s biggest bowling asset is their new-ball partnership of Boult and Southee. Capable of extracting movement off the pitch, the duo has made a living by putting oppositions on the back-foot early.

In addition, the lion’s share of India’s runs is scored by the top three and a complete malfunction of the top order would put the middle-order under immense pressure. Moreover, the likes of Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma are more than adroit at making up for sluggish starts.

The hosts’ bowling attack might not be as dangerous as those of yesteryears yet Southee and Boult can trouble any batting line-up on their day. Thus, a safe and sound start by India’s openers might be the order of the day. And if they are successful in negotiating the new ball threat, they could just inch closer to a historic series victory.