Preview: India vs Pakistan – 2nd ODI
First Published : 02 Jan 2013, 15:39
Last Modified : 02 Jan 2013, 16:57
What
The second ODI between India and Pakistan
When
January 3, 2013
Where
Eden Gardens, Kolkata
The Teams
Making a comeback in the series from 0-1 by beating the in-form Pakistan team will not be a bad way for Team India to welcome the new year. For that to happen, the top-order batsmen will have to take the onus of negotiating the visitors’ highly potent pace attack and the bowling will need to grow more teeth. After the loss in the first ODI, MS Dhoni rued the unavailability of a fifth specialist bowler, but also maintained they needed seven batsmen. Ringing in the changes will mean bringing Ravindra Jadeja in for one of the three pacers. Ashoke Dinda, Ishant Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar have all led the way at different times in the two T20Is and the first ODI. The Indian captain will be in a fix if he chooses to alter the attack. However, wth Virat Kohli available for selection after his knee injury, Team India's batting could be at full strength during this match.
As Dhoni admitted after the loss in Chennai that the Pakistan team wears a much more balanced look as compared to the hosts. They outplayed India in all three departments in Chennai. However, the bowlers’ task will not be as easy as the early morning start in overcast and swinging Chennai conditions made for them. A 12 pm start means dew will hardly play a part and the toss will lose some of its importance. Given their performance on the tour so far – winning two games to India’s one – Pakistan will not want to make changes in the playing XI. All they have to ensure is to maintain their stranglehold and not give India an opportunity to sneak back in the series like they did in the T20Is.
Key Players
Gautam Gambhir has played more limited overs cricket at the Eden Gardens in the last two years than any of his teammates. The Kolkata Knight Riders’ captain will look to arrest his indifferent form and guide Team India’s innings from the top. With the ball not expected to move like it did in Chennai, Virender Sehwag too will have conditions to his liking. However, the Indian batsman that Pakistan will be most wary of is Mahendra Singh Dhoni. After playing one of his greatest ODI innings in his last match – 113* off 125 balls – the Indian skipper looks in ominous touch. Also, he loves the Eden Gardens. Two of his five Test centuries have come there and he averages 103.75 at this ground with 415 runs in four Tests. Having said that, the Indian batsmen will have to step up to balance out the young bowling attack.
Once again, all eyes will be on Pakistan’s fast bowlers as they try to tame India’s formidable batting. However, given the Eden Gardens strip’s tendency to assist the spinners, Saeed Ajmal might get his first chance on this tour to outshine the pacers. In batting, Younis Khan will be the glue that keeps the Pakistan innings together.
Trivia
In 10 international games played against Pakistan at Eden Gardens, India have won only one. Pakistan have won all 3 ODIs. Out of seven Tests played here, both sides have won one apiece, while 5 were drawn. India’s only win came in March 2005 when they won by 195 runs.
Nasir Jamshed averages 266.00 in ODIs against India. In three matches his scores against India are: 53*, 112 and 101*.
Stats
Venue Stats
Average first innings score at Eden Gardens:
Overall - 249**
Since 2000 – 274**
Average second innings score at Eden Gardens:
Overall - 208
Since 2000 – 225
** excluding incomplete innings
Result summary at Eden Gardens:
|
Matches |
Won by side batting 1st |
Won by side batting 2nd |
No Result |
Tied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Overall |
14 |
11 |
1 |
0 |
|
Since 2000 |
5 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
Team Stats
Head-to-head:
|
Matches |
Played |
India won |
Pakistan won |
No Result |
Tied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Overall |
122 |
48 |
70 |
4 |
0 |
|
In India |
28 |
10 |
18 |
0 |
0 |
|
At Kolkata |
3 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
Last meeting between both sides at the Eden Gardens:
Brief scores:
Pakistan (293/4) beat India (292/6) by 6 wickets on May 13, 2004
Form guide (most recent listed first):
India: Lost, Won, Won, Won, Lost (3 wins, 2 losses)
Pakistan: Won, Lost, Won, Lost, Lost (2 wins, 3 losses)
The Squads
India: MS Dhoni (capt/wk), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, R Ashwin, Ashoke Dinda, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Amit Mishra, Shami Ahmed, Ishant Sharma, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja
Pakistan: Misbah ul Haq (capt), Anwar Ali, Azhar Ali, Haris Sohail, Imran Farhat, Junaid Khan, Kamran Akmal (wk), Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Irfan, Nasir Jamshed, Saeed Ajmal, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Younis Khan, Zulfiqar Babar
