| Player: | MS Dhoni, BB McCullum |
| Event: | India in New Zealand 2008/09 |
India put in a comprehensive performance the other day to win the opening one dayer albeit the Duckworth and Lewis method against the Kiwis. They would be keen on maintaining the winning momentum when both the teams face off in the second ODI at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington. Mahendra Singh Dhoni surprised the opposition when he came out to bat at the fall of the first wicket and while he played the anchor role he ensured that the scoring never stagnated.
The batting seems to be falling into place nicely with everyone contributing. With Ishant too recovering from the shoulder injury, the bowling takes on menacing proportions. Praveen Kumar bowled quite beautifully under lights as he swung the ball both ways to leave the Kiwis perplexed.
The Kiwis were totally outplayed by a determined Indian outfit and their worries were further compounded when Brendon McCullum appeared to have injured his thumb while standing upto Grant Elliot. The inability of the Kiwi bowlers to contain the marauding Sehwag allowed the Indian team to get off to a solid start from which they went on to post a huge score.
The Kiwis would expect someone like Jesse Ryder to follow Sehwag and give their side a rousing start. With India having batted first in all the three games on this tour it will be interesting to see how the Kiwis fare if they are to set a target.
India are all set to recall Ishant Sharma in place of Munaf Patel who disappointed in the last game. The batting order seems set in stone, so Tendulkar will again open with Sehwag with Gambhir at three.
Brendon McCullum is fighting an injury scare to his thumb so he will not keep wickets tomorrow. Peter McGlashan the Northern Districts keeper will make his debut tomorrow. If McCullum plays, Neil Broom is likely to sit out and if he does not, Guptill and Ryder will open the innings.
Teams (from):
India : MS Dhoni (captain), Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Praveen Kumar, Zaheer Khan, Irfan Pathan, Ishant Sharma, Rohit Sharma, Munaf Patel, Pragyan Ojha.
New Zealand : Daniel Vettori (Captain), Neil Broom, Ian Butler, Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum, Peter McGlashan, Iain O'Brien, Jacob Oram, Jesse Ryder, Ross Taylor, Grant Elliot, Kyle Mills, Tim Southee.
Umpires : Rudi Koertzen and Ewen Watkin.