India's Predicted Playing XI against Windies for 2nd T20I

India’s chase of only 109 runs in the first T20I match against the Windies at Eden Gardens, Kolkata did not turn out to be the cakewalk that the Indian fans had anticipated. It required the class of Karthik and brilliance of Krunal Pandya to secure the opening victory by five wickets.

Asked to bat first, the Windies failed to find the rhythm against India’s fiery bowling lineup and soon succumbed to 28/3 within the first five overs. Kuldeep Yadav and the debutant Krunal Pandya turned the game in India’s favor with quick wickets and Windies eventually finished at 109/8.

In reply, India found its hopes pinned on Dinesh Karthik, who played a calm and calculating inning that befitted his predecessor. Pandya scored a whirlwind 21 from nine balls to take India across the winning line.

Now, with just one day for travel and recovery, the two teams will be up against each other in the 2nd T20I that will be played at the Ekana International Cricket Stadium, Lucknow. This is the first international match at this venue, and the home team will be hoping to inaugurate it with a win and pocket the T20I series. Here is what India’s playing XI tomorrow should look like -

The Openers

#1 Rohit Sharma (C)

Rohit Sharma

The acting Indian captain enjoyed a win to start his stint, but he will not be very pleased with his own performance. Windies’ opening bowler Oshane Thomas bowled his first over at a bowling speed constantly above 140 kmph and Rohit struggled to time the ball. He did score one boundary when the ball was overpitched but was out caught behind on the last ball of the over.

Rohit will be eager to replicate his ODI form and play a captain’s knock in the upcoming matches. The Windies bowling is less threatening once you get past Oshane Thomas and Rohit will be thinking on similar lines.

#2 Shikhar Dhawan

Shikhar Dhawan

The ‘Gabbar’ has mellowed down since his heroics in the Asia Cup 2018. Even in the ODI series, Dhawan had good starts but gifted his wickets away before making it a significant knock. With a modest total to chase in the first T20I, he had an ideal opportunity to get back in the form, but Dhawan could not capitalize. He was bowled after scoring only three runs.

Dhawan needs to put these knocks behind and enter the Lucknow Stadium with a fresh mindset. The batsman is in the news for his IPL transfer, and it is time for him to make everyone talk about his batting.

The Middle order

#3 KL Rahul

KL Rahul

Rahul did not get a chance to feature in the ODI series as the team management has designated him as the reserve opener. With Virat Kohli resting, KL has earned a great opportunity to showcase his talent at number three position. In the opening T20I, he was not in his usual IPL form and struggled to accumulate runs quickly.

In the remaining two matches, KL Rahul will have the chance of scoring big while batting at number three. The Karnataka run-machine can prove that his place is not in reserves but on the playing strip.

#4 Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant

Pant’s inclusion in this T20I series came at the expense of Mahendra Singh Dhoni and it became an enormous talking point. The Delhi boy did not don the gloves in this match though, he played as a specialist batsman. His stay on the pitch in the first match, lasted for only four balls as he skied a short ball. Pant, we know is capable of grand things and will have another chance in the second T20I to repeat his IPL exploits.

#5 Manish Pandey

Manish Pandey

In the past, Manish Pandey had been found to be too slow while batting in T20Is. With the required run-rate being less than six, the first T20I was the ideal opportunity for the Karnataka batsman to strengthen his selection claim.

Alongside Dinesh Karthik, Pandey was batting calmly but fell into the trap of a short ball and was dismissed for 19 from 24 balls at a crucial juncture. The team management will persist with Pandey, but he will soon be running out of favors.

Wicketkeeper

#6 Dinesh Karthik

Dinesh Karthik

Karthik once again displayed what value does experience and cool-head adds. He knew that the scoring rate was always under control with a small total to chase. The Tamil Nadu batsman did not take any risks initially and stabilized the innings alongside Manish Pandey.

Once the opportunities for run-scoring appeared on the bowling of Kieron Pollard, Karthik took the full toll of it and brought India closer to the win with his controlled knock of 31 from 34 balls.

Once Krunal Pandya arrived at the crease, Karthik rotated the strike efficiently and Pandya with his superb knock carried India to a win. The senior batsman was aware of his role and played it to the perfection. He was efficient with the gloves as well and completed his duty religiously.

Dinesh Karthik at six provides India the confidence of possessing a proper batsman at the end. The batsman is capable of adapting to the situation and bat as required.

All-rounder and Spinner

#7 Krunal Pandya

Krunal Pandya

It was hard to miss that the elder brother Krunal Pandya replaced his younger brother Hardik Pandya in the Indian T20I side. Many experts pondered why Krunal was denied an opportunity for so long and with his performance of 21 from nine balls, Krunal proved their astonishment valid.

The left-arm spinner was exceptional with the ball as well. In his four overs spell, he conceded only 15 runs and grabbed the key wicket of Kieron Pollard.

With the match-winning performance in the first T20I, Krunal will retain his spot in the playing XI. His all-round capability provides the crucial team balance for India.

#8 Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep Yadav

The left-handed spin wizard once again tricked the Caribbean batting lineup and continued his domination over them. Kuldeep ripped apart the Windies middle order as he dismissed Darren Bravo, Rovman Powell, and Carlos Brathwaite. In the process, he only conceded 13 runs in his four overs. The left-arm wrist spinner was deservedly adjudged as the Man of the Match.

While Yuzvendra Chahal has lost the spot from India’s limited overs setup, Kuldeep has ensured that he is untouched. He will be up to bamboozle the Windies batsmen once again in the second T20I.

Pace battery

#9 Khaleel Ahmed

Khaleel Ahmed

On the back of his impressive showings in the ODI series, Khaleel Ahmed received the T20I India cap in the first match and continued performing in the same stead.

The left-arm pacer was impressive while opening the bowling and was effective at the death as well. Khaleel conceded only 16 runs in his four overs with a maiden and a wicket to his name.

#10 Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

The one change that India should do at Lucknow is replacing Umesh Yadav with Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

The bowler was a certainty in the first match as well but missed due to a gastric complaint. He will be raring to take the field in his home state.

Umesh Yadav opened the bowling in the first match and picked up a wicket in his second over as well. However, his chronic problem of disappointing at the end cropped up once more and Yadav was carted in the death overs. He conceded 16 runs in his final over and was the most expensive Indian bowler for the night.

#11 Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah

One of the best limited-overs bowlers going around, Bumrah is a dream bowler for any captain. His pinpoint accuracy and skiddy pace make him an effective weapon in the death overs. Bumrah was impressive in the first T20I, however, earned only one wicket for efforts. With Bhuvneshwar back to accompany him, he will be hoping to deliver better.