After a sublime display from Jasprit Bumrah and the opening duo of Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan, India look in red hot form ahead of the second ODI against England at The Lord's on Thursday, July 14. What happened at the Oval will certainly benefit the Men in Blue and will shatter the English team.
India defeated the ODI World Champions by 10 wickets but the biggest takeaway from the game will be the Indian captain's free flow of runs. The initial carnage was done by Bumrah and co where they restricted England to 110 in just 25-odd overs. And when they came out to bat, Rohit set the tone with 76* (58) as Dhawan played second fiddle with a gritty 31* (54). The convincing win was a glimpse of what fans might see in the remaining two matches of the ODI series.
Will Virat be available for the Second ODI?
Ahead of the second ODI, the biggest concern for India will be the uncertainty of former skipper Virat Kohli. The veteran was ruled out of the first ODI due to a groin injury and his absence will be a big blow for the side. But if the bowlers can keep the flow up, there is a high chance that the Indian top order will seal the game even before the Indian middle order is tested.
Meanwhile, Virat's position is still not clear but the star batter's presence will balance the Indian setup. If Kohli returns, the next two games will be the perfect platform to answer his critics.
Can Jos Buttler revive his IPL form?
England on the other hand, have a lot to work on. Their top order hasn't lived up to the hype. After getting tested in three T20Is and one ODI, it is fair to say that Buttler not firing has exposed the English team even more. England has the firepower on paper but their misfiring is the biggest irony.
Jos was the star in the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season. He won the Orange Cap after scoring 863 runs for Rajasthan Royals (RR). He displayed a similar form against the Netherlands but has struggled against the Men in Blue. With Buttler not firing and the top order looking out of touch can the English team execute the 'Bazz Ball' approach in the limited-overs as well?
Can India seal the series at Lords?
Considered the home of cricket, the Lord's has been one of India's favourite grounds. Be it the 1983 triumph or the NatWest series, India has always put on a strong display be it on the ground or while cheering from the iconic balcony. It would be hard to not mention BCCI President Sourav Ganguly's famous shirt saga especially when the second ODI is just a day after the NatWest Triumph.
Back in the day, the Indian white-ball setup was revived under Ganguly's captaincy. 20 years down the lane, India is among the most dominant white ball teams in the world. Rohit Sharma and his men have everything in their pocket to seal the series at Lord's but they will also be mindful of England's star players. Buttler just needs one innings to get things going and the Indian fans will not be for hoping for that at Lord's.
