Placeholder canvas

India all set to thrash Kiwis in second ODI

Date:

New Delhi: After a dominating victory over Kiwis in Dharamshala, India’s limited over captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is all set maintain the momentum to regain his golden touch even as Virat Kohli eyes another smashing knock at his home ground when favourites India lock horns with an hapless New Zealand in the second ODI at Delhi’s Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium on Thursday.

It may be just another ODI in a bilateral series, but there is lot at stake for Dhoni, who has been under pressure after Test skipper Virat Kohli led India to the number one ranking following a 3-0 whitewash.

India, New Zealand, Kiwis, cricket, second ODI, Feroz Shah Kotla, Mehindra Singh Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya

With India up 1-0 in the five-match series, Dhoni and his men would like to reassert themselves at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium in order to further consolidate their lead.

It is expected that Dhoni would not tinker much with the playing XI from last game with Suresh Raina, who missed the opening match, being ruled out of the second ODI as well after failing to recover from a bout of viral fever.

ALSO READ: NewsMobile EXCLUSIVE: Donald Trump ‘locker room’ conversations, Trump speaks out

At the face of it, there is apparently no danger to Dhoni’s captaincy since the team is still winning matches. But if one digs deeper, Virat has slowly and surely been the man everyone is looking forward to as a leader.

India, New Zealand, Kiwis, cricket, second ODI, Feroz Shah Kotla, Mehindra Singh Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya

A ‘Clean Sweep’ in Test series with a career-best double hundred, followed by an effortless 85 Not out in first ODI, Kohli has time and again showed as to how it is done “leading from the front.”

For Dhoni, it’s now about showing the world that he is far from being dubbed as a spent force in limited overs after earning sobriquet of ‘Best Finisher” some years back.

While Kane Williamson’s ‘Black Caps’ is struggling to stay afloat in the series, India’s ‘Captain Cool’ is fighting a different battle to remain the ‘supreme’ commander’ of ‘Men In Blue’.

ALSO READ: Here’s how Virat Kohli reacted,when he met his doppelganger

Dhoni is still supremely fit and agile behind the stumps.

His captaincy acumen cannot be questioned. Testimony to that is Hardik Pandya opening the bowling and Kedar Jadhav filling in the role of a part time off-spinner.

India, New Zealand, Kiwis, cricket, second ODI, Feroz Shah Kotla, Mehindra Singh Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya

But then runs aren’t exactly coming from his bat. The big hits aren’t being executed with perfection that used to be his hallmark a few years ago.

He was run out for 21 in the last game and although that didn’t affect the outcome of the match in any way, but the skipper knows only too well that he has to play a few impact innings in coming weeks.

No wonder Dhoni’s intensity while batting at Kotla nets during an optional session was there to be seen. For the record, he needs another 61 runs to complete 9000 ODI runs.

ALSO READ: Aishwarya-Ranbir setting social media on fire with these smoking hot pictures

But there must be a lingering shadow of Virat standing right behind him.

A 3-0 Test series victory has set a benchmark. Now Dhoni would like to ideally win the series 5-0 against a New Zealand side. A blip here or a hiccup there would invite more criticism as people take it for granted that India will win hands down against New Zealand.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Share post:

Subscribe

Popular

More like this
Related

NewsMobile Morning Brief

Actor Govinda Joins Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena Ahead Of...

Gangster-Turned-Politician Mukhtar Ansari Dies Of Cardiac Arrest

Banda: Gangster turned politician Mukhtar Ansari passed away at...

IPL 2024: Rajasthan Royals Defeat Delhi Capitals By 12 Runs

Jaipur: Rajasthan Royals clinched a 12-run win over Delhi...