India to face West Indies in the second ODI tomorrow. File Pic[/caption]Internet Desk: Veteran left-hand batsman Yuvraj Singh’s poor form will be the centre of attraction when India will lock horns with Windies in the second ODI in Port of Spain tomorrow.
India reached 199 for 3 in 39.2 overs in the first ODI on Friday, but after that heavy rain came into action and finally the match was abandoned.
Opener Shikhar Dhawan’s 87 run knock and Ajinkya Rahane’s 62 were the talking points of the Indian innings.
Except the weather, Yuvaj’s form will be a cause of concern for skipper Virat Kohli as Yuvi is out of touch after the first match of the ICC Champions Trophy.
After scoring a brilliant half century against the arch-rivals Pakistan in the opening game of the ICC Champions Trophy, Yuvraj failed miserably in next four matches.
There is no doubt that Yuvraj is a class on his own but at this age, he is just a shadow of his past. His fielding has deteriorated a lot in last few years and Virat had to hide him on the ground in the Champions Trophy.
Few days back legendary Indian batsman Rahul Dravid told the media that the time has come to take decisions with focus on the 2019 World Cup which also includes a call on the role of a player like Yuvraj Singh.
With just two years left and around 45-50 ODIs to be played, Kohli will have to take a call in the next few months about Yuvraj figuring in his scheme of things.
An explosive left-hander like Rishabh Pant, the most exciting batting prospect among the Gen-Next is waiting in the wings, eagerly for his chance. The veteran can't take his place for granted in the side.
Not to forget an injured Manish Pandey waiting to get fit and prove his mettle in the 50-over format.
With the first match being a wash-out, India are unlikely to change their playing XI for the second ODI, which will be played at the same venue.
For Rahane, the half-century will be a confidence booster, knowing fully well that he will have to vacate the top spot once Rohit Sharma is back during the next limited overs assignment.
It was not the smoothest of innings by any standards but if one assesses the track which was slightly on the slower side, Rahane did well to add 132 with Dhawan, who has been in blazing form.
Come to think of it, even Dhawan's second coming has been largely due to KL Rahul's shoulder surgery and he has made full use of the opportunity since the start of the Champions Trophy.
After emerging as the top-scorer in England winning the 'Golden Bat', Dhawan has carried his form into the Caribbean islands, which augurs well both for him and his team.
India also need a full match, which will help the team management test left-arm Chinaman Kuldeep Yadav's abilities as a shorter format bowler.
Kuldeep was handed a debut during the first match in place of Ravindra Jadeja, who didn't have a great Champions Trophy with the ball.
Jadeja still remains the country's premier left-arm spinner but the West Indies series is an ideal platform to test youngsters.
Squad:
India: Virat Kohli (captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni (wk), Kedar Jadhav, Hardik Pandya, Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Umesh Yadav, Dinesh Karthik, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Rishabh Pant
West Indies: Jason Holder (captain), Jonathan Carter, Miguel Joseph, Alzarri Joseph, Jason Mohammed, Kieran Powell, Kesrick Williams, Devendra Bishoo, Roston Chase, Shai Hope, Evin Lewis, Ashley Nurse, Rovman Powell.
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