VISAKHAPATNAM: With an in-form top-order, India look set to extend their supremacy while the West Indies face a huge task to make a comeback in the second One-day International here on Wednesday.

And millions of eyes will be on Indian captain and run-machine Virat Kohli — when he comes out to bat today — needing another 81 runs to become the fastest man to 10,000 runs in ODIs, surpassing the iconic Sachin Tendulkar. Tendulkar took 259 innings to get there and Kohli has so far batted 204 times.

Notwithstanding the Indian bowlers’ profligate display, albeit on a better, the home team made easy work of what looked like a stiff 323-run target in the series opener, taking a 1-0 lead in the five-match rubber at Guwahati.

Finishing the game with eight overs to spare was a statement of sorts and another blow to the West Indies’ morale. However, despite the convincing victory, India will be better off with a bit of frugality from their bowlers.

Besides, India are unlikely to get enough opportunities to test their middle-order against this West Indies attack, what with the home team’s top three batsmen in the mood to plunder runs.

But the lack of enough game-time for their middle-order may not hold India in good stead in the run-up to the World Cup.

As far as today’s match is concerned, Kohli knows his team is thin in the bowling department, and West Indies made full use of the weakness, though the visiting team’s attack too, was taken to the task under lights.

In the absence of Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the Indian seamers were not up to the mark at the Barsapara Stadium. Also, Ravindra Jadeja did not look threatening in the middle overs and this allowed West Indies batsmen to keep going for their strokes.

A wayward Mohammad Shami was taken for 81 runs in 10 overs. Fresh from a 10-wicket outing in the second Test, Umesh Yadav could not replicate his red ball form, conceding too many runs.

For West Indies, pace spearhead Kemar Roach is back after missing the Test series due to bereavement in the family, but he could not inspire the team first up. Roach will get another opportunity on Wednesday, and so will the likes of Devendra Bishoo, and skipper Jason Holder himself.

Teams (from):

INDIA: Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Ambati Rayudu, Manish Pandey, MS Dhoni, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Khaleel Ahmed, Umesh Yadav, KL Rahul

WEST INDIES: Jason Holder (captain), Fabian Allen, Sunil Ambris, Devendra Bishoo, Chanderpaul Hemraj, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Evin Lewis, Ashley Nurse, Keemo Paul, Rovman Powell, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels, Oshane Thomas.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2018

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