India vs New Zealand: 3 Changes India can make for IND vs NZ 2nd ODI

India vs New Zealand: Indian Cricket Team is currently taking on New Zealand in the three-match ODI series. They displayed a sensational performance and were quite good in handling the pressure in the first game and cliched the game by just 12 runs. The focus now shifts towards the second and third games to be played on the 21st and 24th January in Raipur and Indore respectively.

India vs New Zealand: 3 Changes India can make for IND vs NZ 2nd ODI 

The first ODI between India and New Zealand was a near-perfect game for the hosts for most of the time. But they faced a real scare in the end as they were taken to the cleaners by Kiwi batters. They batted and bowled staggeringly well in the series opener in the first half but with hectic schedule ahead, they might look to rest a few players. Let’s take a look at 3 Changes India can make for IND vs NZ 2nd ODI:

1. Yuzvendra Chahal in place of Shardul Thakur 

Yuzvendra Chahal could also be in contention to play the second game against New Zealand. Shardul Thakur went for thrashing in the first game as he conceded 54 runs which was one of the main reasons New Zealand got close to the target. Although he took the wicket of Bracewell in the end, he was expensive. With Hardik Pandya in the team, they can have the luxury to play two wrist spinners as well. Both Chahal and Kuldeep have done reasonably well when they played together and the second game against New Zealand could well be another chance of seeing them bowling in tandem.

2. Umran Malik in place of Mohammad Shami  

Mohammad Shami made a return to the Indian side after recovering from the injury recently. He played three games against Sri Lanka but wasn’t effective. However, his comeback wasn’t as he would’ve liked. He looked good in the first half of the game against New Zealand but was taken to the cleaners during the day end. With him likely to bowl tough overs in Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the team can look to rest him and play Umran Malik in the second game against Black Caps as he has been bowling really well and was the second-highest wicket-taker in the series against Sri Lanka. With him being a genuine fast bowler, he can be handy for the team going forward.

3. Shahbaz Ahmed in place of Washington Sundar

Shahbaz Ahmed could well be in line for the second game. The all-rounder was named in the side as a replacement of Axar Patel, who was rested for the series. He could replace Washington Sundar in the team as the all-rounder looked off colours in the first game with both bat and ball. Therefore the team can look to replace him with Ahmed, who has been in decent form in domestic form. In three ODIs so far he has picked 3 wickets.