Friday, October 10, 2014

India vs West Indies 2014, 2nd ODI: Key Clashes

Virat Kohli will be the focus of attention again as India and West Indies face-off in Delhi on Saturday for the second ODI. Who are the other players to watch out for? Here's a run-down. Reported by: Rajarshi Gupta Last updated on Friday, 10 October, 2014 21:07 IST Total Shares Raina West Indies 1st ODI

Suresh Raina, who was dismissed by Dwayne Bravo in Kochi for a duck, will be eager for revenge.© BCCI

Down 1-0 in the five-match ODI series, India will take on the West Indies at the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi on Saturday in a bid to draw level. The 124-run loss in Kochi would have hurt the world champions, more so because the embarrassing defeat came in their own den. The likes of Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja and Shikhar Dhawan will be expected to step up against a very good West Indian ODI side and ensure there are no further blushes.

It will not be easy though as the visitors are studded with some of the most dangerous limited-overs cricketers in the world. Will India's pin-up boys get the better of Dwayne Bravo, Dwayne Smith and Kieron Pollard?

Here's a look:

Dwayne Bravo vs Suresh Raina: The two cricketers have been Chennai Super Kings teammates for six years now and know each other's strengths and weaknesses. That was perhaps the reason Dwayne Bravo knocked off a dangerous Suresh Raina, in the form of his life, for a duck in the first ODI at Kochi. The celebration that followed from the Trinidadian would have fired up Raina to come back stronger the next time they faceoff again, in Delhi on Saturday for second ODI. The left-handed batsman has been in the form of his life, as was apparent from the match-winning hundred in the Champions League Twenty20 final against Kolkata Knight Riders. Rest assured, Raina would be keen to on his CSK teammate and close friend. This contest should be a cracker!

Marlon Samuels vs Virat Kohli: While Marlon Samuels announced his hunger for runs in India with a swashbuckling hundred in West Indies' victory in Kochi, India's batting sensation failed to lift his horror form, getting out for two in India's steep run-chase. Both men are key to their teams' chances; both batsmen keep the scoreboard moving and know how to build an innings. While the visitors benefited from Samuels' resistance, India were rocked by Kohli's continued failure. His last five ODI innings - 0, 40, 1*, 13 and 2 do not make for happy reading. Can Kohli stage a remarkable comeback in his hometown on Saturday? (Want Kohli to End Run Drought: Dhawan)

Mahendra Singh Dhoni vs Kieron Pollard: Both players have one thing in common. One solid innings from either, could turn any match on its head. They have the power and the skills to hit sixes at will and are not scared to take on the best bowler in the attack. Mahendra Singh Dhoni is of course, a far more consistent finisher and a better batsman, having amassed 8,135 runs from 248 ODIs vs Pollard's 1,996 in 89 matches. But numbers would matter little when these men are on song. The Feroz Shah Kotla is not a big ground and if the bowlers err in length, there would be little mercy from Dhoni and Pollard. (Ishant Sharma Replaces Mohit Sharma)

Dwayne Smith vs Shikhar Dhawan: The two openers hold the key to their teams' success, more so in ODIs, with their aggressive style of batting. Dwayne Smith looked threatening before his innings was cut short on 46 by Ravindra Jadeja, while Shikhar Dhawan sought to anchor the Indian chase with a composed 68. He did not get enough support from the other batsmen and his effort at the end of the day counted for nothing. But a strong platform from these men could well determine the results. For the statistically inclined, Dhawan has more runs (1727 from 44 ODIs) than Smith (1241), who has 48 matches more.

Andre Russell vs Ravindra Jadeja: Two of the most talented all-rounders in the world facing off against each other, is always exciting. While Russell gives West Indies the option of a good seam bowler who can bat to win games lower down the order, Jadeja has often been used as the frontline spinner. His batting prowess has never been in doubt and the Saurashtra cricketer has played crucial roles time and again in the course of his 106-match career, slamming 10 fifties. The Delhi pitch could be more to Jadeja's liking and he could well make a significant impact with his accurate left-arm spin bowling.

Story first published on: Friday, 10 October 2014 20:37 IST

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Friday, October 10, 2014

India vs West Indies 2014, 2nd ODI: Key Clashes

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