The Kiwis are off to a great start in the 3 match ODI series against Team India after their humiliating series defeat in the shortest format of the game to the very opposition. For the visiting nation, it has started to look like an obvious routine for them to lose their 1st match of the series only to win the series with comprehensive victories from the remaining games.
Here we look at 3 possible changes that Team India might look to make for the do or die game on Saturday.
Navdeep Saini for Shardul Thakur
Indian team management did the same mistake in the ODI series against Australia by playing Thakur ahead of the Delhi express Navdeep Saini in the 1st game. India were hammered by the Australians in the 1st ODI which India lost by 10 wickets. India realized their mistake at the cost of the 1st ODI and played Saini who troubled the Australian batters and was a perfect partner for Shami and Bumrah. India are caught in the same scenario that they faced in the Australian series and the stage is set for Saini to show what he is capable of in the 2nd ODI.
Yuzvendra Chahal for Kuldeep Yadav
The chinaman who has 2 hat-tricks under his belt in the 50 over format has been worked out by the batsman off late. The threat he possessed has been nullified by the batters in the last few series and the form of Kuldeep has taken a beating. There is no denying that Kuldeep has the X-factor in him as he can turn the game on his head in no time with multiple wickets in an over which he has done several times in his short career.
At the moment, Kuldeep has been low on confidence and needs some quality time away from the game to regain his lost confidence. The leading leggie Yuzvendra Chahal who has been benched since the West Indies series and has missed 7 consecutive ODIs since then. He needs to be injected into the team as his experience and shrewd mind will be valuable for India in the do or die game.
Having said that, India can still go on to win the game with the same team that played in the 1st ODI if they field well and take the catches to the best of their ability. India is turning out to be an utter flop in the field with only the captain doing some out of the world things to maintain the tempo while fielding. The other fielders must look up to their captain to seek some inspiration.
Auckland will host the 2nd ODI on Saturday