Kumble hints at different batting order in second ODI

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Kumble hints at different batting order in second ODI
India cricket coach Anil Kumble (4L) addresses the team during a training session at the Ferozshah Kotla stadium in New Delhi on Wednesday.

New Delhi - The conditions at the Ferozeshah Kotla expected to favour spinners

By IANS

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Published: Wed 19 Oct 2016, 7:20 PM

Last updated: Wed 19 Oct 2016, 9:23 PM

Brimming with confidence after a convincing victory in the first One-Day International (ODI), limited-overs skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni will eye another big win when favourites India take on New Zealand in the second match of the five-match rubber at the Ferozeshah Kotla Stadium here on Thursday.
With the conditions at the Ferozeshah Kotla favouring the spinners, the hosts will bank on their last ODI performance where Kedar Jadhav and experienced leggie Amit Mishra ran through the Kiwi's middle and lower order.
It is also expected that Dhoni will not make any changes to the playing eleven as each player seemed like complementing each other in the last match.
Star batsman Suresh Raina will miss the second ODI against New Zealand as the southpaw is still recovering from a bout of viral fever.
In the batting department, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli, Manish Pandey and Dhoni had decent starts in the last game and are expected to score big runs in the second game.
The bowling department has settled down into a nice rhythm as pacers and spinners chipped in with vital breakthroughs when needed.
Sent into bat in the last ODI, New Zealand would have been disappointed to be bowled out with 37 balls still remaining in their innings so skipper Kane Williamson will likely make some changes in the top order.
Apart from Tom Latham, batsmen Martin Guptil, Ross Taylor and Williamson looked clueless against the Indian bowlers and will have to come good if they want to match India at Ferozeshah stadium.
In the bowling department, Pacer Trent Boult will likely be included in the squad to support Tim Southee to trouble the Indian batting line-up. Spinners Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi had also found it hard to bowl on the flat Dharamsala track. But on the Ferozeshah wicket both spinners will like to make their case stronger as conditions there will support the spinners.
There has been constant debate on whether Mahendra Singh Dhoni should bat up the order with questions being raised about his ability as a finisher but coach Anil Kumble made it clear that the veteran skipper has "enough experience" and "does not need time to settle down".
Asked if Dhoni would be asked to bat up the order keeping in mind India's Champions Trophy defence in UK next year, Kumble was quick to respond: "It all depends on match situations. While chasing you need more experience. As far as MS is concerned, he has enough experience. He has shown over the years that he has enough capabilities as a batsman.
"We don't need to really look close at giving him time to settle in. You will probably see a different batting order depending on different situations."


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