Ind v Eng: India look to bounce back in Kochi ODI

AWAIT LIVE SCORE UPDATES. Click here to recap 1st ODI

Struggling India still licking their wounds after their agonising 9-run defeat in the first one-day international against England, will have to get their act together especially in the bowling department if they aim to bounce back in the second ODI at Jawarhalal Nehru Stadium in Kochi on Tuesday.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni is under pressure once again after the setback at Rajkot on Friday as they attempt to salvage pride after having conceded the Test series to the tourists.

India's batting came good in a high-scoring thriller with everyone except for Virat Kohli firing but all were guilty of throwing their wickets away which saw them fall short.

Openers Gautam Gambhir and Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh came up with good scores but none of them could stay on for a longer time.

India's bowling frailties were exposed as they conceded 70 runs in 31 balls, including 38 runs in the last two overs bowled by Ishant Sharma and Bhuvneswar Kumar.

But it is the bowling that is more concern with both the pacers and spinners lacking teeth.

With the Nehru Stadium promising to be a batting paradise, England's batsmen could expose them.

Whereas their best spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has been ineffective, England were given a positive spin by James Tredwell who captured four top order wickets.

The pace trio of Jade Dernbach, Tim Bresnan and Steven Finn too have contributed well, sharing five wickets among them in the first ODI.

Their batting also have been rock solid in the first game as the top-order fired riding on a record opening stand of 158 between Ian Bell and Alistair Cook to post a mammoth 325.

And now an inspired England after winning a historic Test series in India recently, are eyeing a double by clinching the ODI series too.

One thing that may work to India's advantage in Kochi will be the humidity.

Squads (from):

India: MS Dhoni (Captain), Gautam Gambhir, Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Amit Mishra, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ashok Dinda, Shami Ahmed

England: Alastair Cook, Joe Root, Ian Bell, Tim Bresnan, Danny Briggs, Joseph Buttler, Jade Dernbach, Steven Finn, Craig Kieswetter, Stuart Meakar, Eoin Morgan, Samit Patel, Kevin Petersen, James Tredwell, Chris Woakes.
 

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