India vs England 2021: 3 Changes That Team India Need To Make To Win The 2nd ODI

Following the convincing win in the first ODI, India needs to make sure they continue the winning momentum against the number one ODI side England in the second ODI on March 26. India clinched the first game by a margin of 66 runs and created a lot of doubt in the England mindset which had only one direction.

England, being the world champions have attacked from the outset and have never stopped scoring runs in any situation. This has made things very interesting as they fell short in the run chase by losing all the wickets in the 42nd over the mark and the required run was manageable. However, the young debutants from India stood up to the occasion and showed maturity.

3 Changes That Team India Need To Make To Win The 2nd ODI:

Include Suryakumar Yadav in place of Shreyas Iyer:

Shreyas Iyer did not have the best of outings in the first ODI as he was dismissed for just 6 runs. To make it worse, he suffered a shoulder injury during fielding and was ruled out of the remainder of the game. He was taken to the hospital and the scans confirmed that he will no longer take part in the remainder of the ODI series as well as the IPL 2021.

Iyer has been really good for India over the recent months, and he will feel unfortunate to be out of the game for the next four months. Suryakumar Yadav who did very well in the T20 series is most likely to make his debut for India in the 50 over format as well. He has the ability to clear the ropes at will as well as can play the long game and this will be the best opportunity for him to cement his place.

Replace Kuldeep Yadav With Yuzvendra Chahal:

Kuldeep Yadav has been on the sidelines for the major part of the matches since cricket has resumed and he certainly looks like a player who is lacking match time. He conceded 68 runs in the first ODI after bowling 9 overs at an economy rate of more than 7 and he was the only bowler to not take a wicket on the wickets column. Kuldeep Yadav’s strength will be his ability to deceive the batsman in the air which wasn’t the case in the first game.

The England batsman had a liking for Kuldeep’s bowling and India missed the services of Yuzvendra Chahal badly. Chahal hasn’t been in his best form too in recent times and he was very expensive in the T20 series too.

However, Chahal is a wicket-taker always and his overall numbers in ODI cricket have been really good. He has got the much-needed break and he will be looking to get back in form.

Rest Rohit Sharma And Open With KL Rahul:

Rohit Sharma had suffered a blow to his elbow in the last game and he did not take the field in the first ODI. India might not take the chances and hence, they could rest Rohit for the second ODI which will open up a lot of options. Resting Rohit could make way for the inclusion of in-form Rishabh Pant into the middle order and KL Rahul could move up the order to open with KL Rahul.

Pant wasn’t picked in the first ODI as Rahul was the first-choice keeper for India and Rahul did justice to the skipper’s trust in him by scoring an important half-century with 62 runs off 43 deliveries. Rahul hit four sixes and four boundaries at a strike rate of 144 and he surprised his critics coming back to form. Pant also provides a left-handed option in the middle order which becomes an added advantage.