IND vs WI, 2nd T20I: Ishan Kishan returns home with Ranchi set for a spectacle
Ishan Kishan returns to Ranchi on Friday but this time the welcome will be different. The Jharkhand star will feature at the JSCA Stadium as part of India’s T20I set-up, with a packed home crowd waiting to see him back on familiar ground when India take on the West Indies in the second match of the series.
India lead 1-0 after making short work of the visitors in the opener. Shreyas Iyer’s unbeaten 102 managed 172 runs in just 14.4 overswhile the Indian spinners exposed West Indies’ vulnerability in the middle overs. Now, with dew expected to affect the evening’s conditions, visitors must find an answer quickly.
The second T20I of the five-match series is played on Friday, October 9, with the toss scheduled for 6:30 PM IST. Live streaming of India vs West Indies T20I series will be available on JioHotstar app and website while the matches will be telecast live on Star Sports Network in India.
Kishan’s homecoming adds an interesting subplot to a game where India will be looking to extend their winning streak and West Indies will be desperate to avoid falling behind further. Ishan Kishan was a crowd favorite during India’s practice session ahead of the 2nd T20I against West Indies in Ranchi. (Image: PTI)
INDIA HOLDS ALL THE ACES
India’s biggest advantage is the number of ways they can hurt the West Indies. The opening game was not just about Shreyas Iyer’s unbeaten 102; India were also chasing 172 with 32 balls to spare, underscoring the depth and pace available in their batting order.
Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson can put pressure on the new-ball attack while Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube give India plenty of strength through the middle. This batting depth means West Indies cannot afford to relax even after early breakthroughs.
With the ball, India’s spinners dictated the middle overs in the opener, forcing West Indies into errors and eventually bowling them out for 171. The Ranchi conditions could make this a particularly interesting battle, especially if the surface offers some grip before the dew takes hold later in the evening.
India have pace, confidence and lead 1-0. The challenge now is to ensure the strong start doesn’t turn into complacency as they look to take the next step to close out the series.
CAN WEST INDIES BEAT WES SPIN?
West Indies will have to find a way through India’s spin-laden attack if they are to level the five-match series in Ranchi. Their 171 in the opening set was a promising start, but three power-play wickets left them exposed before India’s spinners tightened their grip in the middle overs.
Bowling coach Ravi Rampaul believes the answer lies in their better players batting deeper and keeping the scoreboard moving.
“Definitely the batting rotation. Our middle order also has Hetty (Hetmyer) and Shai (Hope) and they are very good rotation players.” The Indian spinners proved to be a nuisance for the West Indies batter last time out. (Image: PTI)
The West Indies bowling also came under pressure, with Matthew Forde conceding 39 from two overs and Shamar Springer struggling to make a breakthrough. However, Rampaul backed the young attack, attributing their struggles to execution and experience.
“It just boils down to the experience of the bowling group and then executing our plans.”
With dew expected to affect conditions later in the evening, Rampaul wants his bowlers to adapt and trust their plans. Avoiding another collapse and making better use of their experienced spin players could be key for West Indies to stay in the competition.
IND vs WI, 2nd T20I: TEAM NEWS
India’s biggest choice may be whether one needs to be made at all. The hosts were clinical early on and had no injury concerns, so an unchanged XI is the most likely result.
Naman Dhir’s three wickets on debut give India another spin alongside Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel. Mayank Yadav could make way for Prince Yadav if India want to experiment, but there is little pressure to change the winning combination.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will remain the main talking point. The 15-year-old is yet to play an international match for India and his explosive net session on Thursday only added to the attention around him.
The West Indies have a more difficult challenge. Amir Jangoo is available after Jewel Andrew’s injury and brings excellent ODI form, but Kamil Pooran has just made his T20I debut. Gudakesh Motie could come into contention if they want another spinner, although major changes to the XI seem unlikely.
RANCHI COURSE AND WEATHER CONDITIONS
The JSCA International Stadium Complex will host its first T20 match since 2023, making the conditions difficult to judge. The average first innings score at the venue was 176 in 2023, although this figure could be tested by an aggressive Indian batting line-up.
Spinners could prove to be key difference makers. India have some valuable experience at this venue, with Kuldeep Yadav having played the last T20I here, while Arshdeep Singh has also featured on the pitch in the shortest format. Their familiarity with the surface could prove useful if the pitch starts to offer grip. India last played a T20I match at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi in 2023. (Image: Reuters)
Rosa could play a major role later in the evening as well. A heavy layer of dew was seen along the sidelines during India’s practice session, raising the prospect of difficult bowling conditions in the second innings. The ball could be harder to grip, so throwing is especially important.
The weather could add another layer to the competition. Cloudy skies and a chance of thunderstorms are expected around throw-in, which could help the new-ball pitchers. The moisture in the air and overhead conditions could create swing opportunities early in the inning.
Temperatures are expected to hover around 24 degrees Celsius in the early evening before dropping as the night progresses, which could make for chilly playing conditions in Ranchi.
IND vs WI, 2nd T20I: PREDICTED XI
India Predicted XI: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Prince Yadav, Arshdeep Singh
West Indies Predicted XI: Shai Hope (C/WK), Amir Jangoo, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Roston Chase, Romario Shepherd, Matthew Forde, Gudakesh Motie, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph
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