Highlights, India vs West Indies, 2nd T20I in Lucknow, Full Cricket Score: Hosts clinch series with 71-run win

Rohit Sharma: We wanted to understand how the wicket was behaving, hence we took our time at the beginning. Whenever you get an opportunity you try to do well. I am sure everyone would return home with a smile. Glad that we could win the match and the series. Shikhar Dhawan’s natural game is to put pressure on bowlers but he wanted to take some time as he was out of form. We took some time and it’s not easy to stop Dhawan once he gets going. 120+ partnership was very crucial and KL Rahul finished very well.

Most Man of the Match awards for India in T20Is:

10 – Virat Kohli

8 – ROHIT SHARMA*

7 – Yuvraj Singh

Rohit Sharma is awarded the Man of the Match award.

Carlos Brathwaite, Windies captain: We fielded well in the last game but didn’t field as we would have liked today.It was always going to be an uphill task to chase such a total. This is hard to digest but we need to take few positives before we play the final game. Hopefully we can put together in the final game. They batted well without losing a wicket in the initial overs. We would have been happy with 170-180. Our batting continues to let us down. We got a young group guys so we need to appreciate the positives. We didn’t come in this tour with an opener so we are still looking for one. Difficult to choose a perfect batting pair. up until the pair works out we will keep trying. Hopefully in the third game we’ll put up a better performance.

Most wickets across formats in 2018:

72 – KULDEEP YADAV*

72 – Rashid Khan

64 – Kagiso Rabada

64 – Adil Rashid 

56 – Jasprit Bumrah

Khaleel Ahmed: I was bowling with new ball so I had more responsibility today. I am working on both my bowling as well as non-bowling arm with Bharat sir in the practice session.

This is India’s sixth consecutive bilateral T20I series win.

Most wins in a calendar year in T20Is:

17 – Pakistan, 2018

15 – India, 2016

12 – INDIA, 2018*

11 – Afghanistan, 2016

10 – Australia, 2010

Prior to the start of this T20I series, a lot of people including me expected Windies to be competitive. But in both the matches so far it has been one-way traffic. When the needed to lift their game, this new-look Windies unit succumbed under pressure. Whereas Indians have been clinical, especially with the ball. Also, along with his batting exploits, Rohit Sharma has been impressive as a leader as well. He continues to maintain his 100 percent series-winning record.

India win the second T20I by 71 runs and take the three match series 2-0 with one match remaining.

After 20 overs,West Indies 124/9 ( Carlos Brathwaite (C) 15 , Oshane Thomas 8)

After being hit for a couple of boundaries by the number 11, the fast bowler in Bumrah comes out as he delivers a short ball against the charging Oshane Thomas, who tries to take evasive action of getting out of the way, he slips and is floored, but is able to get back inside his crease before Karthik hits the stumps. However, that counted for very little. It is Diwali time and India can rejoice the festivites with this big win which seals the fate of the series and the tour as well.

FOUR! Well, well…what do you know? Thomas hits back-to-back boundary off Bumrah. This time he simply crushes the delivery down the ground and the ball races to the boundary down the ground

FOUR! Oshane Thomas has earned his first runs in T20Is. Times it well. Off his pads and into the mid wicket fence. Brathwaite smiles.

OUT! Soft dismissal. Bumrah bowls the slower delivery that stops on Pierre, who was through the shot early, returning a simple catch to the bowler. India one wicket away. Can Bumrah get his third or will Windies bat out the four remaining deliveries?

K Pierre c and b Bumrah 1(4)

After 19 overs,West Indies 115/8 ( Carlos Brathwaite (C) 15 , Khary Pierre 1)

Bhuvneshwar Kumar caps off a superb return with a wicket in his last over. He completes his quota with just 12 against his name after he bagged two wickets.

Most catches by Indian fielders in T20Is:

42 – Suresh Raina

32 – Virat Kohli, ROHIT SHARMA*

21 – Hardik Pandya

OUT! The ball keeps finding Rohit Sharma! He claims his third catch of the game. It was the knuckle ball from Bhuvi that got Keemo Paul, who mistimes it to straight mid off. He is unable to get over the fielder. India two wickets away.

K Paul c Rohit b Bhuvneshwar 20(21)

After 18 overs,West Indies 112/7 ( Carlos Brathwaite (C) 15 , Keemo Paul 18)

Keemo Paul reviews after he was given out by the umpire but not sure for what though! Was this an lbw or was it a caught behind? The batsman went for a reverse sweep that he misses with the ball hitting his pads and ballooning it for the ‘keeper to catch it. India first appealed for leg before and then caught behind. Whatever it might be, the batsman survives. In fact he smacks couple off sixes off the next two deliveries with Brathwaite ending the over with the third six.

SIX! Brathwaite gets into the action. Powerful hit. Was a little full and Brathwaite just picks it off his legs and sends it high and long over the long on fence. Much straighter compared to the two sixes that were hit by Paul.

SIX! Keemo Paul makes use of his feet to reach the pitch of the delivery and heaves it over wide long on for a maximum. Two-in-two.

SIX! Paul deposits the tossed up delivery from Kuldeep Yadav over long on fence for a big six.

After 17 overs,West Indies 93/7 ( Carlos Brathwaite (C) 9 , Keemo Paul 5)

Khaleel Ahmed gets through his final over with conceding a boundary. Captain Rohit Sharma is still very proactive, be it with his bowling changes or field placements. He has done everthing right today and he wants to ensure he ends it on a perfect note as well.

After 16 overs,West Indies 88/7 ( Carlos Brathwaite (C) 6 , Keemo Paul 3)

Bumrah with couple of yorker right in the blockhole that are dug out well be Keemo Paul. Just four singles off the over. Isn’t Bumrah just fabulous when it comes to bowling in the backend!

After 15 overs,West Indies 84/7 ( Carlos Brathwaite (C) 4 , Keemo Paul 1)

Few plays and miss in Pandya’s over. Only two singles in his final over of the spell. He ends with figures of 4-0-23-0. Only a formality remaining in the match.

After 14 overs,West Indies 82/7 ( Carlos Brathwaite (C) 3 , Keemo Paul 0)

Two wickets in as many deliveries and India inch closer to what will in all likelihood be a massive victory. Bhuvneshwar Kumar bagged his first wicket in Denesh Ramdin.

This is nothing short of a harakiri by the Winidies batsmen. There has been no gameplan, no application from the defending World T20 champions.

OUT! Direct-hit from Krunal Pandya and Fabian Allen is well short of his crease. Even a dive doesn’t help his cause. Allen taps it to cover and sets off for a single. Brawaite was ball-watching and when he did send his partner back, Pandya had collected the ball. He paused, took aim and bull’s eye. Curtains for Allen. Windies lose two wickets in two balls.

Fabian Allen run out (Krunal Pandya) 0(1)

OUT! Ramdin flicks it off his legs and finds Rohit Sharma, who gobbles up another smart catch. Rohit just cannot put a foot wrong today. Can he? Bhuvneshwar Kumar takes his first wicket. Windies continue to slide.

Ramdin c Rohit b Bhuvneshwar 10(17)

After 13 overs,West Indies 79/5 ( Denesh Ramdin (W) 10 , Carlos Brathwaite (C) 2)

India lose their review of the first ball as there was a leg before wicket inquiry against Brathwaite that was denied by the umpire and according to the ball tracking it was sliding down the leg side. Krunal Pandya catches everyone, including his wicket-keeper by surprise with his bouncer, yes you read it right, the ‘slow’ left arm orthodox unleashed a bouncer that Brathwaite ducked under but a leaping Karthik was unable to stop it before it went for four byes. Eight runs off it.

Seems we are heading towards yet another meek surrender by the Windies batting line-up. Since the victory in the Pune ODI, it will be fourth in a row. Indian spinners on the other hand, have been stuck to their job, especially Kuldeep used his variations beautifully.

After 12 overs,West Indies 71/5 ( Denesh Ramdin (W) 8 , Carlos Brathwaite (C) 2)

India have a firm grip on this game and now they are applying the stranglehold. Two slips in the 12 th over of the second innings with a spinner bowling to a player, who struck four sixes to win the T20 World Cup, says a lot. Kuldeep delivers a fantastic over, conceding just three runs. 125 needed off 48.

After 11 overs,West Indies 68/5 ( Denesh Ramdin (W) 7 , Carlos Brathwaite (C) 0)

Out of the final 10. Bhuvi and Bumrah – widely regarded as one of the best bowlers when it comes to death bowling – have five overs up their sleeves. Bumrah runs in to bowl one of those and gets the big wicket of his Mumbai Indians’ teammate Kieron Pollard. Another sensational over from Bumrah, giving away just a solitary run from his over. Captain Carlos Brathwaite has arrived to the crease.

OUT! Bumrah earns a wicket with a very well-directed short ball that was angled into the big man. He was looking to pull it on the leg side but ended up getting a leading edge that went straight up. Pollard hangs his head down and starts walking only to have a slight collison with Bumrah as he was completing the catch. Pollard did try to get out of the way at the very end, but was very close to Bumrah. Fortunately, Bumrah completed the catch otherwise it could have been very controversial.

Pollard c and b Bumrah 6(11)

Bumrah is back into the attack

After 10 overs,West Indies 67/4 ( Denesh Ramdin (W) 6 , Kieron Pollard 6)

Just going over six an over here Windies. Kuldeep lines up for dots after being struck for boundary down the ground. At the halfway stage Windies need almost 13 runs an over with six wickets in hand. Require 129 off the final 10.

FOUR! Too full from Kuldeep and Pollard simply stands in his crease and drills it down the ground past long off for four.

Kuldeep Yadav is now India’s highest wicket-taker in this year in T20Is with 17 wickets, going past Yuzvendra Chahal.

After 9 overs,West Indies 62/4 ( Denesh Ramdin (W) 5 , Kieron Pollard 2)

Kieron Pollard is the new man in and perhaps the last hope for the visiting team. He is up against Krunal straight away. Five wides down the leg side and five singles helps Windies take 10 from the over. Still 134 needed off 66 balls.

After 8 overs,West Indies 52/4 ( Denesh Ramdin (W) 3 , )

Lot happened there! Rohit Sharma pulling off an absolute ripper followed by a sensational googly that foxed Pooran. Kuldeep already has two wickets off his first six deliveries. Windies in tatters.

OUT! Through him! Was the googly and as we have seen, all new batsman find it difficult to pick Kuldeep, same is the case with Pooran. He had no real clue which way the ball was turning. The ball goes through the massive gap between bat and pad. Off stump uprooted. Kuldeep has second wicket in his first over.

Pooran b Kuldeep Yadav 4(3)

FOUR! Nicholas Pooran plants his foot across and paddles it very fine to start his innings with a boundary.

OUT! Ufff! What.A.Catch! Darren Bravo goes for the booming slice and gets a fine edge with the ball flying past DK, but Rohit Sharma at first slip pulls off a sensational reflex catch. Terrific, terrific catch. Kuldeep with his trademark celebration.

Darren Bravo c Rohit b Kuldeep Yadav 23(18)

Unlike the wayward Windies pacers, the likes of Khaleel, Bhuvi and Bumrah have been really disciplined here, even with the dew around. The batsmen haven’t been allowed to get any sort of momentum. With the asking rate touching 11, things are not looking good for the Windies.

Kuldeep Yadav into the attack

After 7 overs,West Indies 47/2 ( Darren Bravo 23 , Denesh Ramdin (W) 2)

Krunal Pandya kept it wide from Bravo’s range from round the stumps, giving away just four off his first five deliveries, but Bravo nailed the boundary off the final delivery to make it an eight-run over.

Powerplay comparison:

India : 49/0

Windies : 39/2

FOUR! Full delivery outside off and Darren Bravo has absolutely buried the drive down the ground. The ball skids off the surface and into the boundary skirtings.

Krunal Pandya is brought into the attack

Did you know?

The highest target successfully chased by a team against India in India is 200 by South Africa at Dharamsala in 2015.

After 6 overs,West Indies 39/2 ( Darren Bravo 16 , Denesh Ramdin (W) 1)

Despite ten runs coming off Khaleel’s over, India will be happy after seeing the back of Hetmyer. Denesh Ramdin is the new batsman. End of the powerplay and Windies have already lost their openers.

FOUR! Cannot bowl there. Full toss on the pads and all Bravo had to do was get some bat on it. Four to fine leg.

OUT! Annnnddd gone! Hetmyer holes out to Shikhar Dhawan at long on. Was looking to go big over long on, but the length bowled by Khaleel wasn’t ideal for the big shot. Gets it from the bottom of the bat and Dhawan runs in to take the catch.

Hetmyer c Dhawan b Khaleel Ahmed 15(14)

FOUR! Nicely done! Hetmyer opens the face of the bat and runs it fine through the vacant slip region to third man fence.

After 5 overs,West Indies 29/1 ( Shimron Hetmyer 11 , Darren Bravo 11)

Besides the lone boundary ball, good start for Jasprit Bumrah. India on top so far witht the required rate already over 11. However, India had a similar start as well, will they be able to kick on?

FOUR! Bumrah gets the line wrong as Bravo tucks it off his hips to fine leg fence.

Jasprit Bumrah is introduced into the attack.

After 4 overs,West Indies 23/1 ( Shimron Hetmyer 10 , Darren Bravo 6)

Hetmyer muscles couple of boundaries off Khaleel Ahmed. The two fours will keep the batsman going. Ten runs from the over.

I am not quite convinced about this move of opening with makeshift opener like Shimron Hetmyer, especially when they have Nicholas Pooran in the squad. During the ODI series, Hetmyer had shown that he can be a good hitter against spinners in the middle-overs. Perhaps, the Windies want him to face as many balls as possible.

FOUR! Another boundary for Hetmyer. Clears the front leg and pulls it to cow corner.

FOUR! Hetmyer backs away and unleashes a fierce flat-bat forehand to smash it past the bowler. All muscle there to smack it down the ground.

After 3 overs,West Indies 13/1 ( Shimron Hetmyer 2 , Darren Bravo 5)

Another very good over from Bhuvneshwar Kumar, only two singles off it. He is varying it nicely, had Hetymer completely deceived with a slower delivery early in the over.

Early wicket, exactly what the doctor ordered for India. Yet another failure for Hope as an opener. Khaheel bowled a good channel to him. Interestingly, the left-arm pacer, who was part of the Sunrisers Hyderabad team in the last IPL, featured in just one match in the entire season.

After 2 overs,West Indies 11/1 ( Shimron Hetmyer 1 , Darren Bravo 4)

Successful start for Khaleel Ahmed as he cleans up Shai Hope. Darren Bravo walks in at three and gets off the mark with a four off the last ball of the over.

FOUR! Darren Bravo pulls through midwicket and earns a boundary, though wasn’t the most convincing shot as he didn’t get the timing right, it was placed in the gap and had just about enough to run to the fence.

OUT! BOWLED’EM! Shai Hope pays the price for playing across the line. Was eyeing to the pull the back of a length delivery to mid wicket fence, but the ball doesn’t rise as much as the batsman expected and the ball hits the top of off stump. Bowler Khaleel Ahmed is delighted. India have an early opening.
 

Shai Hope b Khaleel Ahmed 6(8)

After 1 overs,West Indies 6/0 ( Shai Hope 6 , Shimron Hetmyer 0)

After seeing off three deliveries off Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Shai Hope gets off the mark with a straight six. There were shouts of caught behind down the leg side against Hope, which wasn’t given, DK behind the stumps wasn’t sure and hence Rohit doesn’t review.

SIX! Wowzza! Shai Hope lofts it straight over the bowler’s head for a biggie! Presents the full face of the bat and sends the ball over the boundary.

Alright then, we are back for the chase. New opening pair in Shai Hope and Shirmon Hetymer for Windies as they look to scale down 196 to keep the series alive. A fit Bhuvneshwar Kumar to start the proceedings with the ball.

What an incredible knock it has been by Rohit Sharma! He paced his innings beautifully. Towards the end Rahul played his part as well. The Rahul-Rohit pair scored 62 runs in the last 28 balls of the innings. India should feel they have enough. But there are quite a few power hitters in the Windies camp. So, let’s not count them out yet.

Phenomenal innings from the skipper!

Fourth T20i Ton. Second as a captain. First man to do so. Well played, Rohit Sharma. #IndvWI

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) November 6, 2018

Fantastic knock from Rohit Sharma!

Rohit’s been unstoppable in past fee weeks, but despite his century West Indies must be guven credit for restricting score to under 200

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) November 6, 2018

After 20 overs,India 195/2 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 111 , Lokesh Rahul 26)

20 runs from the final over helps India reach 195 in 20 overs. Meanwhile, Rohit has brought up his 4th T20I hundred, most by any. Windies need 196 to win second T20I.

SIX! Full delivery from Brathwaite and Rohit plays it over long-off for a maximum

FOUR! And it’s the fourth T20I hundred for Rohit. It was a slower delivery and Rohit scooped it over the keeper.

FOUR! Edge off Rohit’s bat and runs through third man

After 19 overs,India 175/2 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 92 , Lokesh Rahul 25)

A decent over for Paul as he concedes just six runs. Rahul also spilled a catch straight down the ground but Pollard dropped him.

DROPPED! Slower delivery from Paul which Rahul hit in air through long-on but a diving Pollard failed to hold on to it.

Paul back into attack.

After 18 overs,India 169/2 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 91 , Lokesh Rahul 20)

Windies have lost the plot here as Pierre concedes 21 runs in the over including a six and a four for Rohit and a six for Rahul.

SIX! Another biggie. This time from Rahul. Full, outside off delivery and Rahul swings it straight for a maximum

FOUR! Poor delivery from Pierre, full outside off and Rohit slashes it hard to get a boundary through backward point

SIX! A fullish delivery by Pierre and Rohit just tonks it over long-on for a maximum

Pant perishes in the quest of quick runs. As mentioned before, it won’t be easy for newcomers on this pitch to start hitting from the beginning. So, set Rohit becomes the key man here. He needs to be out there till the 20th over. Windies on the other hand seem like making a comeback in these late overs. If they can restrict India within 170-175, the game will be open.

After 17 overs,India 148/2 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 80 , Lokesh Rahul 12)

Big over as India collect 12 runs. Two boundaries for incoming Rahul and four singles in the over.

FOUR! Rahul picks the leg-cutter early on and cuts it through point for a four

FOUR! Glorious punch on the up through mid-wicket by Rahul

Brathwaite back into attack.

Dhawan was slowing down a little. So, his wicket should not hurt India much. Meanwhile, at the other end, Rohit’s class is evident here. The way he has timed the ball on this pitch, has been quite phenomenal. They need the late flourish to reach 180-190, which will be a very good score to defend, irrespective of the dew.

After 16 overs,India 136/2 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 78 , Lokesh Rahul 2)

Pant started off with a four but got out the very next delivery with a poorly timed sweep to mid-wicket. His replacement Rahul adds two singles and one for Rohit. Seven runs from it.

KL Rahul comes out to bat.

OUT! Pant’s slog sweep is caught at mid-wicket by Hetmyer. It was full and Pant wanted another boundary there but his timing failed him as he top-edged it to the fielder.

Pant c Hetmyer b K Pierre 5(6)

FOUR! Full delivery from Pierre and Pant flicks it strongly to deep mid-wicket

Pierre back into attack.

After 15 overs,India 129/1 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 77 , Rishabh Pant 1)

Four and a single off first two balls for Rohit as Thomas bowls three consecutive dot balls to Pant, who gets off the mark with a single on the last ball.

FOUR! A bit short from Thomas to Rohit and he cuts it over the point for a four

Thomas back into attack.

Rishabh Pant comes out to bat.

After 14 overs,India 123/1 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 72 , )

Rohit began the over with two consecutive sixes and it has ended with the wicket of Dhawan, who missed out on a well-deserved fifty. 16 runs from it.

OUT! Windies finally get a wicket. Dhawan tries to sweep it but the fielder at deep square leg anticpates it and dives to take a brilliant catch. 

Dhawan c Pooran b Fabian Allen 43(41)

Most sixes in a calendar year in International cricket:

66 – ROHIT SHARMA, 2018*
65 – Rohit Sharma, 2017
63 – AB de Villiers, 2015

Most sixes in India in T20Is:

33 – ROHIT SHARMA* (And counting)
32 – Yuvraj Singh
20 – Mohammad Shahzad

The ongoing Rohit Sharma-Shikhar Dhawan stand is now the highest for India for any wicket against Windies in T20Is, going past 107 runs stand between MS Dhoni and KL Rahul for 4th wicket at Lauderhill in 2016.

Windies pacers have not used much variations, which is quite disappointing. Where are those slow balls? On this pitch, someone like Pollard should have bowled his medium pace. Their spinners have been one-dimensional as well. It is big ground and slow bowlers should have given the ball more air.

SIX! Back-to-back six for Rohit. Another slog sweep and another six over mid-wicket

Most century stands in T20Is:

3 – M Guptill/C Munro
3 – M Guptill/K Williamson
3 – V Kohli/R Sharma
3 – D Warner/ S Watson
3 – R Sharma/S Dhawan*

SIX! Slightly short and Rohit slog sweeps it over mid-wicket for a biggie

After 13 overs,India 107/0 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 59 , Shikhar Dhawan 41)

Double on first ball helps Rohit bring up his fifty followed by a four to bring up 100-run partnership. He then adds four more with two singles and a double. Dhawan gets one. 11 runs from it.

Most 50-plus scores in T20Is:

19 – Rohit Sharma*
18 – Virat Kohli
16 – Martin Guptill

FOUR! Slightly short, outside off and Rohit cuts it behind point for a boundary. 100-run partnership comes up.

FIFTY! Rohit brings up his fifty with a double at mid-wicket – a captains’ knock

After 12 overs,India 96/0 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 49 , Shikhar Dhawan 40)

Rohit breaks free with a boundary through a perfectly timed shot at mid-wicket. He then gets a single at cover followed by a double for Dhawan at third-man.

FOUR! Rohit comes down to convert the ball into a full delivery and times it beautifully through mid-wicket to beat the fielder

After 11 overs,India 89/0 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 44 , Shikhar Dhawan 38)

Six from the over. No boundary has been scored in the last two overs and Rohit and Dhawan has taken to the singles route to keep the run flowing.

Keemo Paul comes back into attack.

After 10 overs,India 83/0 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 42 , Shikhar Dhawan 35)

It was an over of singles. Three for Rohit, two for Dhawan. Five runs from it. 10 overs up. The run rate is at 8.3 and with 10 wickets in hand, India will aim for a big total.

Most sixes in T20Is:

103 – Chris Gayle, Martin Guptill 
92 – ROHIT SHARMA* (And counting)
91 – Brendon McCullum

Allen continues.

After 9 overs,India 78/0 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 39 , Shikhar Dhawan 33)

Massive over for India as they collect 16 runs. Dhawan offered a catch on the first ball but Keemo dropped it at deep square leg and deflected it to a four followed by a massive six and a four off pull shots from Rohit.

FOUR! A strong slap off short delivery towards mid-wicket from Rohit gets him a boundary

SIX! Big one from Rohit. Short from Brathwaite and Rohit pulls it behind wicket for a maximum

In the initial few overs, the Windies pacers attacked the stumps and kept the batsmen in check. But later, they have tried to experiment with their line and length, which has allowed the both Rohit and Dhawan to free their arms. Also, the bowlers need to be more disciplined with their front-foot. Already we have seen two no-balls. Windies have to cut down on these freebies.

DROPPED AND FOUR! Dhawan tries to pull Brathwaite over deep square leg but he directs it straight to Paul, who fails to hold onto it and deflects it to boundary.

After 8 overs,India 62/0 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 28 , Shikhar Dhawan 28)

A misfield in deep square leg allowed Dhawan to collect two on first ball followed by a single at long-off. There was an opportunity of caught and bowl on the fourth delivery but Rohit’s shot fell just short of Allen. He then directs one to short third-man for a single followed by a single for Dhawan towards point. Five runs of it.

Left-arm spinner Fabian Allen comes into attack.

After 7 overs,India 57/0 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 27 , Shikhar Dhawan 24)

Dhawan took a single on the first ball to bring up 50-run partnership and 1,000 runs for himself in T20Is. Dhawan and Rohit added two more singles each while left-handed batsman got a double as well. Eight runs from it.

Indian players with 1000-plus runs in T20Is:

Rohit Sharma
Virat Kohli
Suresh Raina
Yuvraj Singh
MS Dhoni
Shikhar Dhawan*

So far so good for India. Both Rohit and Dhawan have been calculative with their strokeplay, haven’t taken any unnecessary risk. They know it is not easy for the new man to come in and start scoring right from ball one. Hence, one of these two needs to play a longer innings tonight. Most importantly for the hosts, Dhawan is looking in a very good touch. Before the T20Is in Australia, the team management wants him to get in the groove.

Most 50-plus stands for India in T20Is:

7 – Rohit Sharma/Shikhar Dhawan*
6 – MS Dhoni/Yuvraj Singh
6 – Virat Kohli/Rohit Sharma
6 – Virat Kohli/Suresh Raina
6 – Virat Kohli/Yuvraj Singh

Carlos Brathwaite comes into attack.

After 6 overs,India 49/0 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 25 , Shikhar Dhawan 19)

The mandatory powerplay is over with 12 runs coming from the sixth over. The highlight was the straight six over long-on by Hitman Rohit.

SIX! Second maximum of the match. Full delivery on middle and leg and Rohit slog sweeps it over long-on

After 5 overs,India 37/0 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 17 , Shikhar Dhawan 17)

Expensive over as India collect 17 runs from it. They needed something to distort Thomas’ rhythm and Rohit started that with a straight six on the first ball. Followed by a no ball, a four on free-hit by Dhawan and a glorious cover drive four.

FOUR! Full, outside off delivery and Dhawan throws his bat on it to place it through the gap between cover and mid-off

Rohit Sharma now holds the record of scoring most runs for India in T20Is, going past Virat Kohli’s record of 2102 runs.

FOUR! It was a free-hit. Short delivery and Dhawan pulls Thomas towards mid-wicket

SIX! A full length delivery and Rohit tonks it over the head of Thomas

After 4 overs,India 20/0 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 10 , Shikhar Dhawan 8)

Nine runs from the over. Rohit brings up the first four of the match with a swing over mid-on followed by a couple of singles. Dhawa also adds a single and a double.

Most partnership runs by pairs in T20Is:

1155 – ROHIT SHARMA – SHIKHAR DHAWAN
1154 – David Warner – Shane Watson
1151 – Martin Guptill – Kane Williamson

FOUR! Windies decide to bring in left-arm spinner Khary Pierre and Rohit immediately decides to break free with a swing over mid-on

Left-arm spinner Khary Pierre comes into attack.

After 3 overs,India 11/0 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 4 , Shikhar Dhawan 5)

Excellent start for Thomas and Windies. Four runs from the over. Dhawan collected two singles in mid-off and short-cover area. While Rohit got two in the third-man and point area.

Shikhar Dhawan’s scores against Windies on their tour of India:

ODI series: 4, 29, 35, 38, 6
1st T20I: 3

It’s important for him to spend some time in the middle and score runs today

The grass on top of the surface can be deceptive at this venue. This is unused pitch and I don’t expect much pace and bounce. There are a lot of cracks on the pitch and feel the curator has left the grass to keep the surface intact. Oshane Thomas has been right at the mark in the first over and Rohit mistimed a few of his shots, which is a clear indication that you cannot play through the line with ease.

Thomas continues.

After 2 overs,India 7/0 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 2 , Shikhar Dhawan 3)

Seven runs from the over. Both openers get off the mark. Dhawan got a single on the first ball with a push through mid-wicket after which Rohit collected his first run with a swing towards square leg followed by a single for Dhawan through cover. There was a free-hit as well after Rohit took single off no ball but Dhawan failed to capitalise.

Keemo Paul comes into attack.

After 1 overs,India 0/0 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 0 , Shikhar Dhawan 0)

The fiery Thomas starts off with a maiden over. Six tight deliveries to Rohit Sharma cramping him for room. Hint of some swing there as well.

Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan come out ot bat. Oshane Thomas to bowl the first over. Rohit is on strike.

The 50,000-seater Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee International Cricket Stadium in Lucknow is packed to the rafters. It’s the 52nd stadium in India to host an international cricket match.

Now, India have to defend a score here with the wet ball, which should make this game interesting. Surprisingly, the hosts have opted to play with three pacers on a track, which is expected to be slow and low. Perhaps the dew factor has forced to think-tank to do so. Also, Bhuvneshwar Kumar comes back in the XI in place of Umesh Yadav. 

For the Windies, it has been a sensible decision to include Nicholas Pooran in place of out of touch Rovman Powell.  Pooran has been impressive as an opener in the CPL and tonight he is expected to bat right at the top alongside Shai Hope.

India vs Windies, 2nd T20I: Playing XIs​

India XI: Rohit Sharma(c), Shikhar Dhawan, Lokesh Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik(w), Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, K Khaleel Ahmed

Windies XI: Shai Hope, Denesh Ramdin(w), Shimron Hetmyer, Kieron Pollard, Darren Bravo, Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell, Carlos Brathwaite(c), Fabian Allen, Khary Pierre, Oshane Thomas

Rohit Sharma: We wanted to bowl first as well. I hope the pitch will hold, there is grass on it. Bhuvneshwar Kumar comes in for Umesh Yadav.

Carlos Brathwaite: We are going to bowl first. We want to chase. One of the reasons is the dew factor. Only one change, Nicolas Poooran is in the team.

Windies win toss, elect to bowl first

Carlos Brathwaite wins the toss, Windies elect to bowl first in Lucknow

Pitch report: Fair covering of grass with some cracks that should assist the new ball bowlers. The character of the pitch won’t change. There might be a little bit of moisture which means the ball might grip a touch. It is a big ground with big boundaries that should prompt the spinners to toss the ball, Murali Karthik and Sunil Gavaskar mention in their report.

Rohit Sharma wants India to learn from mistakes made in first T20I

India lost 5 wickets chasing a 109-run target in the first T20I and skipper Rohit Sharma wants India to learn from their past mistakes.

“(We) knew the chase wasn’t going to be easy. Hopefully we can learn from these mistakes,” Sharma said after the first match. Click here for his full comments.

Former West Indian great Carl Hooper has expressed his anguish over the senior players not playing for the Windies. Here is what he said.

The exodus has afftected the team severely and it has reflected in the downfall of the West Indies as a cricketing force.

Lucknow is hosting an international cricket match after 24 long years with the newly-built Ekana Stadium making its debut.

Meanwhile in Sylhet, Zimbabwe created history by beating Bangladesh to record only their third Test win away from home. Check out the details in the report.

If you thought Eden Gardens offered a tricky surface, the Lucknow pitch isn’t going to be a belter either. Here is what the curator said ahead of the second T20I

Windies’ Fabian Allen reflected on the team’s loss by saying that they were ’too aggressive’ and the pitch called for the batsmen to remain patient. Read the copy here.

The West Indies batting department needs to sort out their mess. In the last three outings, their batsmen seemed to be operating only on two gears — extra aggressive or ultra defensive. There hasn’t been anything in between. Against a versatile bowling attack like India’s, one should know as a batsman how to pace his innings even in the 20-over version of the game, writes Sandipan Baneerjee in his preview. You can read the entire preview here.

Hello and welcome to our LIVE blog for the second T20I between India and Windies. Stay tuned as we build up to the start of the game.