Mumbai Indians

India and New Zealand will meet in the second T20I at Ranchi’s JSCA International Stadium Complex in the three-match T20I series. India won the first encounter by five wickets, sending them 1-0 up in the ongoing bilateral series. 

With just a day’s break in between, the two teams will be back to locking horns for the second match. A win for India means they pocket the series, and the Men in Blue will be looking to do the same. 

Ahead of the second T20I, below are a few points to note. 

Indian top order has been good 

The Indian top order gave the team a stable start in the chase in the first T20I. The KL Rahul-Rohit Sharma partnership touched the half century mark before the former fell. However, Rohit (48 off 36) and the new batter, Suryakumar Yadav (62 off 40), ensured India didn’t struggle from losing their opener. 

A strong top order has provided a cushion to the middle order that is yet to find form. The top order’s performance will be crucial, but they will also be backing the middle order to find some runs. 

Indian bowlers find form 

Senior bowlers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ravichandran Ashwin were among wickets and were measly with giving runs in the first T20I at Jaipur. Of the six wickets that New Zealand lost, Ashwin and Bhuvneshwar accounted for two each. They also gave away only 23 and 24 runs respectively. India will look for more such performances from the seniors in the team. 

Guptill, Chapman among the runs 

Senior opener Martin Guptill returned to scoring ways with a commanding 70 (42) that helped New Zealand stack up a competitive total. Mark Chapman also contributed handsomely with the bat, adding 63 runs in 50 deliveries before Ashwin got the better of him. New Zealand will rely on these two to give them a good start in their important game. 

Must-win game for New Zealand 

In order to stay alive in this series, New Zealand must win the next game. With the team putting up a good fight in the first match and being known for their fighting spirit, India can expect a tough fight from the visitors. 

However, a win for India means New Zealand will have to extend their wait to stand a chance for a bilateral series win in India. 

The second T20I between the Men in Blue and the Black Caps is scheduled for 19th November, 2021 in Ranchi at 7 PM IST.