India has made one change to their playing XI for the second ODI against West Indies, with all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy making way for debutant Auqib Nabi at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Tuesday, September 30. The change was made after India's management had studied the conditions and decided to go with an additional bowling option on a surface offering more grass.
India captain Shubman Gill won the toss and chose to bowl first, with the India skipper saying that there was extra grass on the Guwahati pitch and the assistance it would give to the fast bowlers in the early part of the innings. West Indies captain Shai Hope said that he too would have preferred to bat first but was confident that his side was able to put up a competitive total.
IND vs WI 2nd ODI: Why is Nitish Kumar Reddy not playing?
Nitish Kumar Reddy's exclusion comes days after he only featured once in the series. The all-rounder starred for India in their opening ODI in Thiruvananthapuram, bowling five overs for a wicket and 45 runs.
With conditions set to assist pacemen in Guwahati, India have decided to enforce their change as they look to take stock ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Nabi will make his ODI debut in an intriguing clash, as fans look to see if India pick up another victory after their 206-run win in the opener.
Shubman Gill reveals India's decision at toss
Gill spoke about the difference in Guwahati's pitch and conditions of the first ODI, as he revealed why India opted to bowl first.
“Yeah, a bit more grass, and it looks a little bit patchy at times. So I think there'll be a little bit more for the fast bowlers initially,” Gill said at the toss.
While admitting that the conditions were tough, the India captain was impressed by how his side overcame the challenges in the first 20-25 overs of the first ODI.
However, Gill pointed to his side's fielding in the middle overs as an area for improvement.
“I think the intensity in the field in the middle overs is what dictates the game,” Gill added.
India's opener was pleased with the way his batsmen batted in the first ODI, after multiple have looked in great form in the series, including skipper Rohit Sharma.
Shai Hope says West Indies have to bounce back
West Indies captain Shai Hope said he would have preferred to field first after losing the toss, but insisted that the focus has to remain on their batting.
“Coin toss is a 50-50 chance, and regardless of what happens, we got to do well,” said Hope.
West Indies were in a strong position in the first ODI, but lost their way and collapsed to be bowled out for 314.
Hope pointed to their lack of resilience in the face of the Indian spinners and believes that his team could have scored 20 runs more. “It's about going out there, putting your best foot forward and finding the right solutions to win games,” added Hope.
West Indies make four changes
While India have made one change, West Indies have made four alterations to their XI for the second ODI.
Their captain confirmed that there were multiple adjustments, but refused to go into detail at the toss. The West Indies batting line-up includes John Campbell, Keacy Carty, Amir Jangoo, Sherfane Rutherford, Roston Chase, Keemo Paul, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Jayden Seales and Vitel Lawes alongside Hope.
The visitors will hope the changes make an impact, as they look to put up a better all-round display in Guwahati.
Also read: India vs Sri Lanka Asian Games semi-final: What happens if rain washes out the match?
IND vs WI 2nd ODI: Playing XIs
India: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (c), Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul (w), Naman Dhir, Ravindra Jadeja, Auqib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna.
West Indies: John Campbell, Keacy Carty, Shai Hope (w/c), Amir Jangoo, Sherfane Rutherford, Roston Chase, Keemo Paul, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Jayden Seales, Vitel Lawes.