2nd T20I: India look to seal series against Windies with improved bowling show

India will look for an improved show in bowling and fielding departments to match ir stupendous batting performance when y face West Indies in second game, eyeing to wrap up yet ar T20 series here on Sunday. In last 13 months, India have played West Indies in six T20 Internationals with hosts coming up trumps every single time. On Friday, India claimed ir seventh straight T20I win over visitors, beating m comfortably by six wickets in first game to take a 1-0 lead in three-match series.

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hosts had claimed season's first T20 series win at home last month, beating Bangladesh 2-1. A win on Sunday will t only help India seal ir second series in shortest format but also give m a chance to tests fringe players as y continue ir preparation for T20 World Cup. India pulled off ir highest successful run chase in a T20 International on Friday night as y chased down a challenging 207 for 5, posted by Windies, in 18.4 overs.

If KL Rahul set platform with a 40-ball 62, skipper Virat Kohli finished job with a career-best 94 t out. Rahul looked in sublime touch as he made a case for himself with his well-compiled half-century after being promoted to open in absence of injured Shikhar Dhawan. Karnataka batsman became third-fastest man to complete 1,000 runs in T20 internationals in 29 innings on way to his half-century and he will look to continue his good run.

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Underfire Rishabh Pant too produced two big sixes before being holed out at long-off and wicket-keeper batsman, who has come under scanner for his inconsistent form with bat and poor glove work, will look to grab such opportunities more often. While batting led by Kohli put up a good show, bowlers found mselves at receiving end of some power-hitting by Evin Lewis, Shimron Hetmyer and captain Kieron Pollard. Deepak Chahar, who was impressive in preceding series against South Africa and Bangladesh, found going tough as West Indian batsman went after him. He took one wicket but gave away 54 runs and he will look to execute things better on Sunday.

Returning to side's T20 setup, Bhuvneshwar Kumar went wicketless, bleeding 36 runs in his four overs but weakest link in India's bowling seems to be Washington Sundar, who has failed to provide breakthroughs, claiming just two wickets in his last six T20Is. 20-year-old from Chennai got stick from Windies batsmen and it remains to be seen if India sticks to same bowling unit or brings in wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav on Sunday. In fielding department too, India were far from impressive with Sundar and Rohit Sharma dropping a few catches apart from numerous misfields and hosts will look to quickly pull up ir socks.

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Windies, on or hand, will be desperate to bounce back and keep series alive but for that y will have to find a way to stop Indian batsmen, led by Kohli. visiting team's bowlers appeared clueless as Kohli went on overdrive on Friday. Pacer Kesrick Williams conceded 60 runs from 3.4 overs and would be lucky to keep a place in playing XI on Sunday.

Skipper Kieron Pollard would want experienced Jason Holder (46/0) and Sheldon Cottrell (1/24) to provide wickets in initial overs to stymie a formidable Indian batting unit. visitors also gave away 23 runs in extras, an area which needs immediate attention if y have to put India under pressure. Windies captain admitted that his side failed to execute its plans properly and would hope for improved performance if y have to take series to decider and avenge ir 0-3 loss to same opponent in ir own backyard in August.

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Teams

India: Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul,  Rishabh Pant, Manish Pandey, Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Deepak Chahar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Sanju Samson.

West Indies: Kieron Pollard (captain), Fabian Allen, Brandon King, Denesh Ramdin, Sheldon Cottrell, Evin Lewis, Sherfane Rurford, Shimron Hetmyer, Khary Pierre, Lendl Simmons, Jason Holder, Hayden Walsh Jr, Keemo Paul, Kesrick Williams.