Confident India eye Kotla high

[1]

The Indian team are high on confidence after their convincing win in the first one-dayer against England in Hyderabad and aim to push the visitors into a corner at the second at the Ferozeshah Kotla here on Monday.

If India manage to repeat the sort of performance they delivered on Friday, the visitors will be left with the unenviable task of the winning the last three one-dayers to take the series. Both the teams have won a game each against the other on the two occasions they have played here earlier.

“The win in Hyderabad was a big confidence booster. Hopefully, we will take the confidence from that match forward. We have been preparing hard for this series and everyone in the team is keen to do well,” Virat Kohli said on the eve of the match on Sunday.

For India, the rich vein of form that skipper M.S. Dhoni showed in the last match is a definite plus. The younger lot, specially the spinning duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, rosé to the occasion in the absence of some of the star players.

Suresh Raina, who also played a key role in the first ODI, reported a slight stomach disorder in the morning and had to see a doctor but was seen practicing full strength in the nets later.

The Englishmen, who came here riding high on brilliant summer against the world champions at home, are facing a reality check to their claim of being one of the top teams in the world but are upbeat on their chances in the second ODI.

Their batsmen, barring skipper Alastair Cook, couldn’t adjust well to the slow track in Hyderabad and will be keen to be among the runs here.

“We are disappointed with the result we got the other night and have to rectify the errors that happened in that game. But playing against the world champions in the sub-continent was always going to be tough. It’s a long series and we know that we can produce results,” England pacer Jade Dernbach said.

The slow nature of the Kotla track will keep the spinners in focus and Ashwin and Jadeja will be keen to deliver another match-winning performance against the Englishmen. And although skipper Dhoni may not want to disturb a winning combination, leg-spinner Rahul Sharma may get a look if his extended practice session is any indication. English spinner Graeme Swann will also try to exploit the conditions to his team’s advantage.

“The Kotla wicket has been on the slower side. I think the team batting second will hold a little advantage,” Kohli said.

IN FIGURES

21: The match on Monday will be the 21st one day international at this ground. In 20 previous matches at this venue, the team batting first have won eight times while victories were achieved 11 times on chasing the target.

5: In five previous day-night matches at this ground, team batting first won only once while four wins were recorded while chasing the target.

39: England recorded a two-run win over India when two teams met first time at this venue on January 31,2002. India defeated England by 39 runs when two teams met second and last time at this ground on March 28,2006.

9: The home team have won nine, lost five and abandoned one in 15 matches played at this ground since September 15,1982. They have won one and lost one in two matches played against England who have won two and lost just one in three matches played at this ground.