(Eds: Correcting stat in 16th para)By S S RamaswamyRajkot, Nov 3 (PTI) India are poised for their third T20International series triumph in five years but would be waryof a strong fightback from the usually plucky New Zealand whenthe two sides clash in the second game of the three-matchseries here tomorrow.
The comprehensive 53-run victory in the series opener atDelhi has put India firmly in the saddle for sweeping to awinning 2-0 lead at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadiumhere in Kandheri.
The resounding victory, riding on the exhilaratingbatting exploits of their top-order and, in particular openersShikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma, was the country's first-everover the Kiwis in the shortest form of the game.
The 2007 World T20 champions have produced impressivedeath bowling with Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrahleading the pace department, while the spinners also pitchedin with some excellent bowling in the middle overs.
Considering the immense all-round strength that the hostsboast of, it's going to be a Herculean task for the KaneWilliamson-led New Zealand to prevent India from surging to athird T20I series victory in eight contests, going back to2012-13, three of which were drawn encounters.
The last game is scheduled at Thiruvananthapuram onNovember 7.
The Indian top order batting, with superb stroke-makersin Dhawan, Sharma and Kohli, has to be tamed early if NewZealand hope to carry on the fight till the series-endinggame.
Dhawan and Sharma put on a record 158-run partnershipthat went into the 16th over to ensure that India ended upwith a plus-200 total despite a brief wobble towards the end.
The Black Caps' new ball attack of Trent Boult and TimSouthee lacked discipline in Delhi. It's a bit of a surprisethat these two experienced Kiwi bowlers have been ineffectivewith yorkers at the death, unlike the Indian duo of Bumrah andBhuvneshwar.
And the catching too has let the Black Caps down incontrast to some superb outfield efforts by the Men in Blue.
"We were outplayed in all the areas, fielding included,which is something we pride ourselves on and something we needto be much better at in Twenty20 cricket," Williamson had saidafter the Delhi loss to Virat Kohli-led India.
Kohli has led the team from the front and is himself fastapproaching the 2000-run landmark in T20Is.
If the top batsmen fall cheaply, there are othersspearheaded by former captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni to come tothe home team's rescue.
In slow bowling too leggie Yuzvendra Chahal has continuedto trouble the Black Caps' batsmen, in particular captainWilliamson and senior pro Ross Taylor who is unable to readthe twirl on the ball off the wrist spinner's hand.
Only the left-handed Tom Latham, among the visitingteam's batsmen, has shown a consistently sound and effectiveapproach against the spin bowlers.
India had clinched back-to-back wins in the lasttwo games of the 50-over ODI rubber for a 2-1 verdict in theirfavour.
Incidentally, this would be the second T20 Internationalto be played at this venue on the outskirts of the city whichwas the home venue of IPL side Gujarat Lions earlier thisyear. The first one was against Australia in October, 2013,won by the home side.
It has also hosted two ODIs at this stadium – in 2013 and2015 – and in both these games India ended up on the losingside against England and South African respectively.
It became a Test venue last season when India playedagainst England.
Teams (from):India: Virat Kohli (capt), Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah,Yuzvendra Chahal, Shikhar Dhawan, Mahendra Singh Dhoni,Shreyas Iyer, Dinesh Karthik, Kuldeep Yadav, BhuvneshwarKumar, Mohammed Siraj, Manish Pandey, Hardik Pandya, AxarPatel, KL Rahul.
New Zealand: Kane Williamson (capt), Todd Astle, TrentBoult, Tom Bruce, Colin de Grandhomme, Martin Guptill, MattHenry, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Adam Milne, Colin Munro,Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee.
Match commences at 7pm IST. PTI SSR ATK PMPMATK.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.