India vs West Indies, Highlights, 2nd T20I at Thiruvananthapuram, Full Cricket Score: Windies win by 8 wickets

Lendl Simmons, Man of the match for his unbeaten 67

Simmons: Like playing against India. They are a challenge. Glad to have got the opportunity again. It did not start as I wanted today. I am a bit old school. I take my time and then get going. I understand my role in this team. I knew Pooran and those guys will get boundaries later on, I tried to stay for long.

Kieron Pollard: These things happen (on 10th spot in ICC rankings). What we can control is what’s in front of us. We came back well in the death overs to restrict them under 180. Some guys who’ve from the CPL and I’m very excited for them as this is their chance. Walsh bowled full four overs today, Kesrick was brilliant and I just hope that they go out there and enjoy themselves. 

The most I can do is pass my knowledge to the younger guys. It is what it is (on aggressive body language) and every time I get out there, I’m just looking to lead my team to victory. We are looking forward to that series decider in Mumbai.

Virat Kohli, India captain: You can say that. Numbers say a lot of things. You expect to get 45 runs in the last few overs. Dube’s knock propelled us to 170. Windies bowled well and made sure we did not get momentum. We have been below par in the field in the last two matches. Two dropped chances in one over will cost you big. Fielding is something we need to be brave. We have to be at our best in Mumbai. We knew the pitch was going to do something, we thought why not send Shivam and see how it works and it worked pretty well. One of those catches that stuck in the hand. It came into my hand. It is about putting in the effort, sometime they stick, sometime they do not.

So, the West Indies have shown the glimpses of their power-hitting skills tonight. On a pitch where the Indian batsmen found it difficult to time the ball, these Caribbean boys dismissed the bowling with disdain. The decision of not picking Kuldeep and Shami was a big tactical blunder and hope they will rectify this mistake in Mumbai. Also, they need a better effort in fielding and catching.

Most sixes v India in India in a T20I match:

15 – West Indies, Hyderabad, 2019
12 – West Indies, Trivandrum, 2019*
11 – West Indies, Mumbai, 2016

Nicholas Pooran: We tried not to panic. There was no big pressure. There is a bit of competition in the team. Everyone wants to do well. I work really hard and finally it is being paid off. Cricket is now all about having fun. Much better batting than being in a dug out.

Most consecutive T20I wins for India against an opponent:

8 v Bangladesh, 2009-18
7 v Australia, 2013-17
7 v Sri Lanka, 2016-17
7 v West Indies, 2018-19* (Ended today)

FOUR! That’s it! West Indies win. And win by eight wickets and 9 balls remaining. 

Short ball from Chahar and Pooran pulls it away for four runs to make it 1-1 in the three-match series. What a performance from the visitors.

After 18 overs,West Indies 168/2 ( Lendl Simmons 66 , Nicholas Pooran (W) 34)

Formalities left as Windies just a boundary away for a win. Bhuvneshwar leaks 14 off the last over, one boundary and a six hit. Very ordinary show from the pacers.

Lendl Simmons missed out in Hyderabad but tonight he is making up for it with this well-composed innings. In this power-packed Windies line-up, he plays the role of a sheet-anchor. Quietly he gets the job done whereas the focus is on the other end, towards the big-hitters. This particular innings tonight is a classic example of this gameplan of Simmons.

SIX! What a shot from Pooran, what a shot, on his hips and Pooran hits it over long on for a massive six

FOUR! So beautiful, great wrist work from Pooran, fullish and Pooran drives it through covers for four runs like it is such an easy shot to play.

After 17 overs,West Indies 154/2 ( Lendl Simmons 64 , Nicholas Pooran (W) 22)

Think West Indies have sealed the victory for themselves. Simmons batting with authority. Pooran showing why he is so so special. Indian bowlers have been very ordinary today. 12 off the last over by Chahar. West Indies need 17 runs in 18 balls

SIX! That was fuller and had pace, Simmons gets under the ball and smacks it over long off fielder for six runs.

After 16 overs,West Indies 142/2 ( Lendl Simmons 57 , Nicholas Pooran (W) 18)

This is Windies game now. Very difficult for India to stage a comeback from hereon. Simmons has played a magical innings after being dropped at the start of the innings. We have seen such a template before. Havn’t we? West Indies need 29 runs in 24 balls.

This is the first fifty-plus score for Lendl Simmons after 12 T20I innings. His last fifty came against India in WT20 – 2016 semi-final match before today.

FOUR! Simmons dances down the track off Bhuvi and smacks it over extra cover fielder for four runs. What a shot.

FOUR! Majestic shot from Pooran, fuller and he drives it through the off side for four runs

FOUR! Unbelievable effort from Jadeja at deep square leg but that could stop the four runs. Pooran hit it with immense power.

After 15 overs,West Indies 127/2 ( Lendl Simmons 53 , Nicholas Pooran (W) 7)

Chahal gives away 14 in the over. This is a bad effort considering India made a good comeback in the last over. Need to follow it up with a tight over. West Indies need 44 runs in 30 balls.

SIX! and FIFTY for Simmons! There was flight in the ball, Simmons got in the position and smacked it over long on for a massive six. Brings up his fifty.

SIX! Short ball from Chahal, new man Pooran makes most of it. Hits it over long on for six runs.

Shimron Hetmyer is quick on his feet, which helps him to get into a power-hitting position swiftly while facing a spinner. And with his muscle power, when the left-hander from Guyana hits it, it generally stays a hit. On sub-continental pitches it’s a very effective method to dominate the slow bowlers. It is pity that RCB let him go from their squad. But in the upcoming auction Hetmyer is expected to fetch big bucks.

After 14 overs,West Indies 113/2 ( Lendl Simmons 46 , Nicholas Pooran (W) 0)

India get the second wicket and the dangerous looking Hetmyet thanks to a superb fielding effort by Indian captain. On a day when India have fielder so poorly, Kohli has pulled off an extra-ordinary catch. This should lift India.

OUT! India needed an inspirational effort in the field and captain Kohli has provided just that. He has pulled off a stunner at long on, a diving effort to catch Hetmyer shot, he ran to his right, caught it and then followed it up with a slide, came very close to the ropes but managed to hold on to the ball and stay away from the ropes as well. What an effort. Jadeja gets the wicket. Hetmyer c Kohli b Jadeja 23(14)

SIX! Fuller now from Jadeja and Hetmyer hits a flat six at deep extra cover. He is looking very good now.

SIX! This is very poor from Jadeja, another short tracker from him, and in Hetmyer’s arc, he hits it over deep mid-wicket again for maximum.

After 13 overs,West Indies 99/1 ( Lendl Simmons 44 , Shimron Hetmyer 11)

Windies are in driver’s seat here. But India not completely out of the contest. The bowlers have not understood the right length here and not many have tried to use the slow nature of the track to best use. West Indies need 72 runs in 42 balls.

OUT! That is a very bad ball, room outside the off stump and no pace on the ball, Simmons cuts it away for four runs.

After 12 overs,West Indies 91/1 ( Lendl Simmons 39 , Shimron Hetmyer 8)

Hetmyer is here with a massive six. It was as if nobody noticed he had come in to bat. Jadeja comes into the attack and gives away 8 runs. West Indies need 80 runs in 48 balls.

SIX! What a shot, Hetmyet almost knew what was coming his way, turning in to him, and he smashes it over deep mid-wicket for six runs.

After 11 overs,West Indies 83/1 ( Lendl Simmons 38 , Shimron Hetmyer 1)

Simmons is batting well now. He is striking the ball almost at will. India continue to be sloppy in the field. Dube introduced into the attack and he oversteps once to hand a free hit to Simmons, who hits a boundary on it. West Indies need 88 runs in 54 balls.

FOUR! Free hit this was. Yorker from Dube, and Simmons gets under the ball and hits it to long on region for four runs.

After 10 overs,West Indies 73/1 ( Lendl Simmons 30 , Shimron Hetmyer 0)

Quality glovework from Pant and great comeback from Sundar, who has had a tough match so far. He stuck to the right line and finally some success for him. Windies lose their first wicket. They need 98 runs in 60 balls.

OUT! That was pretty good from Sundar and pretty quick from Pant behind the wickets. Sundar bowled a quick off spinner, Lewis came out but missed to connect, Pant’s hands were right behind the stumps and he dislodged the bails at lightening speed. Dhoni must have smiled after watching that stumping. Lewis st Pant b Washington Sundar 40(35)

After 9 overs,West Indies 71/0 ( Lendl Simmons 29 , Evin Lewis 39)

Simmons joins the party with some lusty blows. Jadeja with a bad fielding effort. How often do you see that on the ground? Just that sort of a day for India on the field. 12 runs off the over.

SIX! Flight the ball and Simmons clears the deep mid-wicket region for a six. There was no stopping the ball.

FOUR! Criminal really this. The ball goes for four runs through the legs. It is Jadeja who has let it go at backward point.

After 8 overs,West Indies 59/0 ( Lendl Simmons 17 , Evin Lewis 39)

India lose their only review. That was a very poor LBW review as neither keeper nor the bowler had any idea whether the ball was hitting the stumps. Turns out the the impace was outside the off stump.

Lewis is once again looking dangerous for India. His power-hitting game in the middle-overs can upset the bowling plans of Chahal and Jadeja. Apart from him, the visitors also have two other left-handers – Nicholas Pooran and Shimron Hetmyer – to follow. So, at this point West Indies are on the driver’s seat in this fixture.

SIX! Simmons stands and delivers, floater from Sundar and there was pace on the ball, goes big straight down the ground for six

After 7 overs,West Indies 51/0 ( Lendl Simmons 10 , Evin Lewis 38)

Fifty up for Windies and India are yet to pick up a wicket. Things are not looking that great for the hosts. They have been ordinary with the ball and in the field. They need an inspirational effort from somewhere here.

SIX! Bad delivery, Chahal bowls at Lewis’ legs and he sweeps it for six over long leg. Fifty up for Windies without ny loss of wicket with that shot.

After 6 overs,West Indies 41/0 ( Lendl Simmons 9 , Evin Lewis 30)

Sundar dropped a catch in the last over and has been hit for 15 runs in this over, including two sixes. Lewis making most of the second chance he has got. If he gets going, this chase will be over pretty soon.

SIX! Lewis comes down the track and dispatches it over deep extra covers for six runs.

SIX! Lewis hits it over deep mid-wicket for six off Sundar. Was not a clean hit but still had enough legs to go over the ropes

After 5 overs,West Indies 26/0 ( Lendl Simmons 8 , Evin Lewis 17)

Unlucky is the word for Bhuvneshwar. Two catches dropped in the over off his bowling. Sundar yet again drops one. This would be a huge dent to his catching confidence. He has dropped as many as 3 so far and all easy ones. Pant dropped one behind the wickets.

DROPPED! Another one dropped, Pant this time is the culprit. Was moving to his right, the ball got the edge and went to his left, he reached to the ball but spilled it on the fall.

Compared to the last game this has been a subdued start for West Indies. Perhaps, both Lewis and Simmons are waiting for the ball to get wet. That’s why at this point they are trying make the ball travel as much as possible on the outfield.

DROPPED! Washington Sundar drops another. This is his third drop in two matches now. Simmons was into the shot early, and the bottom edge flew in the air, Sundar with a reverse cup dropped it.

After 4 overs,West Indies 23/0 ( Lendl Simmons 6 , Evin Lewis 16)

Washington Sundar comes into the attack and he begins well. Just 1 off the over. India needs to keep the pressure on, on the visitors.

After 3 overs,West Indies 22/0 ( Lendl Simmons 5 , Evin Lewis 16)

Lewis smashes boundary off the first ball and then punches Chahar for another four off the next ball. This over has set the tone for Windies in the chase. Expensive over from Chahar. 13 runs came off it.

FOUR! Lovely shot, this time room outside the off stump, Lewis goes on back foot and punches it between backward point and covers for four runs.

FOUR! Slightly short by Chahar and BANG! Lewis smashes it to deep mid-wicket boundary for four runs

After 2 overs,West Indies 9/0 ( Lendl Simmons 4 , Evin Lewis 5)

Bhuvneshwar Kumar from the other end. Simmons shows his intentions, tries to go big over long on but fails to connect well. There is some dew, says Sanjay Manjrekar after checking the outfield near long on. Bhuvi also getting some swing. The new-ball bowlers need to make most of it. Not to forget, these are two of India’s best swing bowlers on display – Chahar and Bhuvneshwar. Just 4 off the second over.

After 1 over, West Indies 5/0 ( Lendl Simmons 1 , Evin Lewis 4)

Swinging big and Chahar smacks his lips. He relishes bowling when there is swing to offer, the second ball of the over swung away and almost went to first slip. More discipline and both these openers can find it very difficult to get going. Four off the last ball. But still a good over from Chahar.

FOUR! Well, that came from nowhere, bounce and swing and it flies over the keeper off the edge of the bat.

West Indies have won only two out of their last 14 matches while chasing in T20Is.

Alright, Windies start the chase. Lendl Simmons and Evin Lewis in the middle. Deepak Chahar has the ball in hand.

170 on this pitch looks like a par score. Throughout the innings, most of the Indian batsmen struggled with their timing. In fact, if the bowling was a bit more disciplined, West Indies would have been chasing something around 155. Nevertheless, in the second half dew will set in and batting will be comparatively easier. Think, the decision of not picking Kuldeep here will have an impact in the outcome of this match.

Most runs in T20Is:

2563 – VIRAT KOHLI*
2562 – Rohit Sharma
2436 – Martin Guptill

India today:

1-6 overs: 42/1 (RR – 7.00)
7-15 overs: 90/3 (RR – 10.00)
16-20 overs: 38/3 (RR – 7.60)

India:

1-6 overs: 42/1 (RR – 7.00)
7-15 overs: 90/3 (RR – 10.00)
16-20 overs: 38/3 (RR – 7.60)

Most runs in T20Is:

2563 – VIRAT KOHLI*
2562 – Rohit Sharma
2436 – Martin Guptill

Hayden Walsh is one of those old-fashioned leg-spinners who likes to give the ball a rip. Also, even against a set batsman the leggie is not afraid of bowling those loopy flighted deliveries, which lure him into playing a fall shot. The youngster seems like a promising prospect for West Indies, especially on those big Australian grounds during the World T20.

After 20 overs,India 170/7 ( Rishabh Pant (W) 33 , Deepak Chahar 1)

West Indies have managed to pull the Indians back spectacularly after Shivam Dube’s assault made the hosts target a target of over 180. Rishabh Pant batted well but the well-disguised slower stuff undid him too.

OUT!

Caught and bowled and Sheldon Cottrell bids adieu to Washington Sundar with his trademark salute. Good stuff from the Windies here.

After 19 overs,India 164/6 ( Rishabh Pant (W) 28 , )

Plenty of extras this over from Kesrick Williams who’s coming back into the attack. He loses his length somewhat but some sharp fielding in the deep means that the Indians can’t get a boundary out of the over. That and the wicket off the final ball and it’s a welcome return to the bowling crease for Williams.

OUT!

Pace off the ball, pitched full and Jadeja looking to slog sweep, loses the ball in flight, striking only at air as the ball rattles his stumps.

After 18 overs,India 156/5 ( Rishabh Pant (W) 27 , Ravindra Jadeja 5)

Kieron Pollard is rotating his bowlers well. Sheldon Cottrell comes back into the attack for his second spell and bowls a tight length, varying his length well to afford only six runs to the Indian from the 18th over.

After 17 overs,India 150/5 ( Rishabh Pant (W) 27 , Ravindra Jadeja 1)

A timely wicket for the West Indies in Shreyas Iyer gets Ravindra Jadeja to the crease and India’s acceleration in the late overs will rely heavily on Pant and him.

FOUR!

The googly pitched at outside off, turns further away from Pant but he strikes hard and splits the gap between mid-wicket and long-off for four.

OUT!

Shreyas loses a hand off the handle as the quicker pace of Walsh does the trick. The ball sliced in the air and Brandon King takes a comfortable catch at point.

After 16 overs,India 144/4 ( Rishabh Pant (W) 22 , Shreyas Iyer 10)

Shreyas Iyer shifts in his crease, trying to manoeuvre some space but can’t get Holder’s ankle-length deliveries away for a boundary. Pant opens his arms at will and it’s a good looking shot for a single. Both batsmen then get a boundary each to make the over, a good one for India, worth 12 runs.

FOUR!

A full toss on the pads from Holder and Pant flicks it easily for four past square leg.

FOUR!

Full, outside off from Holder and Shreyas drives it on the up, clearing the cover fielder for a boundary.

After 15 overs,India 132/4 ( Rishabh Pant (W) 16 , Shreyas Iyer 4)

Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant run four singles between them and the West Indies will be enjoying this little phase of the innings where Williams and Walsh are bowling with a good economy rate. A good over from Hayden Walsh.

When it seemed the launching pad is ready for India going into the last five overs of this innings, Virat Kohli gets out. So now it will be up to Pant, Iyer and other members of this lower middle-order to provide hosts the finish they are looking for. Ideally, something around 185-190 will be a good total on this pitch.

After 14 overs,India 128/4 ( Rishabh Pant (W) 14 , Shreyas Iyer 2)

The West Indies have managed to pull the Indians back a little with that dismissal of Kohli, another installment in a brewing rivalry between the Indian captain and Kesrick Williams.

FOUR!

Pant showing his 360-degree skills. A yorker outside the off stump but Pant, down on his knees, angles his bat to steer the ball past the short leg fielder for four.

OUT!

Kohli has been foxed here from Kesrick Williams. He saw the Indian captain coming down the pitch and banged it short. Kohli, looking to steer it over the third man region but the slowness of the surface means that he holes out to Lendl Simmons at short third man.

India, today:

First 7 overs: 45/1 (RR – 6.43)
Next 5 overs: 67/2 (RR – 13.40)

After 13 overs,India 119/3 ( Virat Kohli (C) 19 , Rishabh Pant (W) 8) 

Barring the sole boundary, tidy over from Hayden Walsh as Kohli fails to get the ball in the gaps. Only seven runs for India from the 13th over.

FOUR!

Flat batted sweep from Kohli who comes down on his knees to steer the ball pitched outside off for a boundary in the mid-wicket region.

After 12 overs,India 112/3 ( Virat Kohli (C) 13 , Rishabh Pant (W) 7)

Kohli and Pant run hard between the stumps as Jason Holder bowls a tight length, not allowing much leeway for a boundary. Tidy over for the West Indies until the lucky boundary for Kohli off the last ball of the over.

FOUR!

Holder was bowling a tight length coming into the batsman so Kohli moves away from the stumps and plays an uppercut. Not perfect execution but the ball goes past the slips for a boundary down the third man region.

Rishabh Pant’s scores while batting first in T20Is:

5*, 38, 23, 5, 3, 1, 4, 19, 27, 6

After 11 overs,India 104/3 ( Virat Kohli (C) 6 , Rishabh Pant (W) 6)

One swash-buckling batsman makes way for another. Rishabh Pant at the crease and doesn’t take much time to get his eye in, showing signs of reverting to his older IPL self with a flat six over long-off on the last ball of the over.

SIX!

Hayden Walsh bowls full outside off but Pant, back to his old self, doesn’t wait to get his eye in, lofts the ball comfortably over long-off for a flat six.

OUT!

Dube should have tempered his approach here. Instead, he tries to hit the ball hard, only to find the bat turning in his hands, the ball spinning away from him. Hetmyer takes an easy catch at cover off the bowling of Hayden Walsh. Good innings nevertheless from Shivam Dube.

FOUR!

Dube gets down on his knees and swats it down long-on where Pollard loses it in the lights.

After 10 overs,India 93/2 ( Shivam Dube 50 , Virat Kohli (C) 5)

Kesrick Williams to Kohli and the captain runs hard for his runs, giving the strike to Dube who’s looking good out there. The Mumbai lad gets a free hit but can only manage a single off his pads. He gets to his maiden T20I fifty off the last ball of the over.

After some initial struggle Shivam Dube seems to have the measure of this surface. The youngster is using his height and reach to good effect and getting runs at a brisk pace. In the context of this game, this is a wonderful half-century.

Dube in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy – 2019:

4, 0, 0, 1, 23, 22*, 2*

FIFTY!

Dube gets to his maiden T20I fifty and it’s come in good time too. Here comes another batting talent staking his claim to a permanent slot in the lineup for next year’s World T20. Good experiment this from Kohli to send Dube at No 3.

After 9 overs,India 85/2 ( Shivam Dube 47 , Virat Kohli (C) 1)

Shivam Dube playing some slam-bam cricket, not getting everything off the middle of his bat but running hard to compensate with twos. That is before he brings out his natural swing over the leg side for a couple of sixes, plus the one over extra cover for the third of the over. Huge break for India.

SIX!

Dube getting into the groove here. A no-holds-barred pull off his legs for humongous six over mid-wicket and Pollard’s slower stuff isn’t working here. Next ball, Pollard goes wide of the off-stump but Dube slashes hard to get his third six of the over.

Virat Kohli’s batting average in T20Is:

1st innings – 33.40
2nd innings – 86.76

SIX!

A slower bouncer from Pollard which sits up perfectly for Dube. He pulls hard and the ball goes over mid-wicket for a maximum.

After 8 overs,India 58/2 ( Shivam Dube 24 , Virat Kohli (C) 1)

Dube breaks the shackles but Rohit Sharma gets out playing an unnecessary shot. Virat Kohli out in the middle.

Virat Kohli needs to score 25 more runs to become the first player to score 1,000 runs in India in T20Is.

Barring that first over, West Indies have bowled well in the powerplay. The likes of Khary Pierre and Kesrick Williams have used the slowness of the surface to their advantage. Even in the non-powerplay overs someone like Pollard, with all his variations, will be a handy bowling option tonight.

OUT!

Desperate stuff from Rohit Sharma, trying to play a predetermined scoop but the length is too full to afford him the required space. The ball rattles the stumps. Holder gets his first.

FOUR!

Holder looks to bowl at Dube’s toes but it’s not a yorker. Dube flicks it, splitting the gap between mid-wicket and long-on.

SIX!

The shorter length deliveries grew predictable for Shivam Dube. He gets a good eye in, pulls off his shoulders for a six over square leg.

After 7 overs, India 45/1 ( Rohit Sharma 15, Shivam Dube 12)

Kieron Pollard into the attack and bowls in the right areas, affording little room to the batsmen as he gets some good purchase off the surface. The fourth ball seems like an off-cutter, stays low, rolling towards to the keeper. Dube can’t get a shot in, only managing a single off the last ball.

After 6 overs,India 42/1 ( Rohit Sharma 14 , Shivam Dube 10)

Kesrick Williams into the attack. Dube takes a single off his thighs for the first ball. Rohit cuts hard to find the fielder in the second, manages to run a quick single on the third ball. Both players play some lofty shots. Dube gets a single of his, Rohit swishes at air, completely missing the line of the ball before trying a similar shot off the final delivery and running a couple. Some pressure being mounted by the Windies here.

After 5 overs,India 37/1 ( Rohit Sharma 11 , Shivam Dube 8)

Shivam Dube is being put under pressure here. Jason Holder comes into the attack and some searing pace from the tall West Indies pacer. First two balls strike Dube on the thighs before the lucky boundary. Rohit Sharma caps off the over with a fine pull shot for another four.

FOUR!

Rohit Sharma gets on top of the bounce gained by Jason Holder and pulls for a boundary past square leg.

Surprise, Surprise!!! Shivam Dube has been sent up the order. Perhaps, he is there to dominate the left-arm spinner in the powerplay. Good to see some sort of out of the box thinking from this relatively one-dimensional Indian T20I side.

FOUR!

Dube manages to get bat on a rising delivery from Jason Holder. Over the wicketkeeper for four.

After 4 overs,India 28/1 ( Rohit Sharma 7 , Shivam Dube 3)

KL Rahul falls and out comes Shivam Dube! Kieron Pollard puts a short leg fielder in place for the new batsman. Some mind games from both sides. Tidy over from Kharry Pierre worth just 4 runs and the crucial wicket of KL Rahul.

OUT!

West Indies get a wicket out of their defensive approach. KL Rahul looking to target Kharry Pierre, plays a slog sweep but caught at square leg by Shimron Hetmyer.

After 3 overs,India 24/0 ( Rohit Sharma 6 , KL Rahul 11)

Cottrell not able to get a grip on the proper line. Or is it deliberate? Nevertheless, he’s getting some good swing in the air. Third ball, he goes Yorker length and Rohit is lucky to escape with a leg-bye. Rahul gets a couple off the next ball. Cottrell bowls a Yorker again. This is a handy approach to contain runs during the powerplay.

Not enough pace on that pitch, as expected in Thiruvananthapuram. And Pollard has done the right thing by introducing spin early from one end, before the dew sets in. However, these Windies bowlers need to hit the right areas to extract purchase out of this surface. But so far their lines and lengths have been disappointing, especially Cottrell is struggling to control this new ball.

So, cricket reaches the southern part of the country and it is already a packed house at the Greenfield international stadium. The conditions, meanwhile, are hot and extremely humid. It will be a stiff test of fitness for players from both the sides as they haven’t had much recovery time after the last game. 

For West Indies, it is a crucial toss to win and bowling first here is an absolute no-brainer considering the dew factor. For India, this is an opportunity to put their bowlers under pressure to judge how effective they are while defending a total against a quality batting unit.

After 2 overs,India 19/0 ( Rohit Sharma 6 , KL Rahul 7)

Spin from the other end as Kharry Pierre comes into the attack, bowling to KL Rahul. The Indian drives it through covers for a single. Both batsmen rotating strike, treading carefully as the spinner could get some grip on this surface.

FOUR!

Kharry Pierre pitches it short, bangs it hard and Rahul cuts it viciously for his first boundary.

After 1 overs,India 12/0 ( Rohit Sharma 5 , KL Rahul 1)

Cottrell bangs it short for the first ball and Rohit gently steers it to square leg for a single. Five wides for the second ball, and Cottrell can’t seem to pitch it in the right areas. India get some freebies and a good start here.

FOUR!

Some swing in the air but Cottrell not able to pitch it in the right areas. It would have been a wide down the leg side but Rohit deliberately gets some bat on it for four down fine leg.

FOUR!

Poor start this. The ball going down the leg side for a wide, out of the keeper’s reach, down fine leg for four. India get some freebies at the outset.

Rohit Sharma in the second match of a T20I series – last five innings:

85, 12, 67, 50, 111*

With both teams virtually unchanged, save the one change in the West Indies team, there’ll some battles to savour for the viewers after some heated moments in the first T20I. Virat Kohli vs Kesrick Williams is right up there. Players are making their way to the field and we are all set for live action. Rohit Sharma will take strike against Sheldon Cottrell.

West Indies have lost each of their last seven T20Is against India.

For the West Indies, the focus needs to be on building on their momentum from the first game. Regardless of that result in the first T20I, the batsmen shone with almost the entire batting order getting in a good start and timing the ball, their innings’ advancing at a good strike rate. The bowlers need to work on not letting the match run deep where India could tighten the screws in the death overs with Bhuvneshwar Kumar in their ranks.

With the chase master Virat Kohli in their ranks, India have a natural preference for batting second. Here’s an opportunity for Team India to work on a different facet of their game. It will be a challenge to contain the West Indies batsmen when dew becomes an issue for the Indian bowlers in the second innings.

India: 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 KL Rahul, 3 Virat Kohli (capt), 4 Shreyas Iyer, 5 Rishabh Pant (wk), 6 Shivam Dube, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Washington Sundar, 9 Deepak Chahar, 10 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 11 Yuzvendra Chahal

West Indies: 1 Lendl Simmons, 2 Evin Lewis, 3 Brandon King, 4 Shimron Hetmyer, 5 Nicholas Pooran (wk), 6 Kieron Pollard (capt), 7 Jason Holder, 8 Khary Pierre, 9 Kesrick Williams, 10 Sheldon Cottrell, 11 Hayden Walsh Jr

India to play with the same team. So no debut at home for Sanju Samson.

West Indies win the toss and elect to bowl first. Nicholas Pooran comes back in, replacing Denesh Ramdin.

Will we see this celebration again tonight? Toss coming up next. 

A captain's knock by @imVkohli as India win the 1st T20I by 6 wickets. #INDvWI #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/osg63znNEn

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 6, 2019

Toss coming up soon! Whether Sanju plays today or not, we will know shortly!

The team goes into a huddle and the crowd erupts "We want Sanju"..

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 8, 2019

Sunil Gavaskar feels that the spinners might get some grip from the surface here in Thiruvananthapuram and batting won’t be as easy as in Hyderabad. That means that Kuldeep Yadav will be a natural selection here.

We might see some changes in team India. Shivam Dube’s medium pace proved ineffective against the burly West Indies batsmen so he might be substituted for Manish Pandey perhaps. Deepak Chahar and Washington Sundar, despite taking one wicket each, leaked plenty of runs and one of them being left out of the playing 11 today wouldn’t be too much of a surprise.

Is he getting a game today at his homeground?

Here we come THIRUVANANTHAPURAM..
☺️🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/T3ZKpXQw1Z

— Sanju Samson (@IamSanjuSamson) December 7, 2019

Rishabh Pant showed some promise in the last game. An improved showing behind the stumps and a couple of big hits right at the start of his innings which suggested that he was back to playing his naturally aggressive game. However, it needs to be said that at this point, he can’ afford to get out the way he did in the last game, a mis-hit which looked rather ugly. Just goes to show that shot selection remains a work in progress for the 22 year old Delhi lad.

Will Shivam Dube come good today?

Any changes for #TeamIndia in tonight’s match? #INDvsWI
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Looking forward to seeing @IamShivamDube show his finishing qualities tonight 👊 #RCB
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Quality stadium, great atmosphere in #trivandrum

— Mike Hesson (@CoachHesson) December 8, 2019

Some banter between the players post that win in the first T20I. 

CHAHAL TV: @klrahul11 opens up to @yuzi_chahal post #TeamIndia's 6-wicket victory against West Indies 😁😎 - by @RajalArora

Full Video here 👉👉https://t.co/kJDFtJdUYB pic.twitter.com/IqKU5Jfuqm

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 7, 2019

India may have won the match but the bowling needs some work against the big-hitters from the West Indies. Had it not been for Yuzvendra Chahal’s twin strikes in the 18th over, India were well looking at a total of 230 plus. In the end, what rescued India was Kohli’s innings, starting off slow but finding rhythm soon after. Read Yash Jha’s analysis of the same here .

Plenty of positives for India from that performance in the first T20I. Their fielding needs some work no doubt but perhaps, the dew was to blame for that. KL Rahul and Yuzvendra Chahal produced stellar performances but it was Captain Kohli’s masterclass in the end. Read the preview for this second T20I as India look to seal the series.

Hello and welcome to the coverage of the 2nd T20I between India and West Indies at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. The hosts are 1-0 up in the series and will be looking to seal the series today. Stay tuned for 2nd match preview, squads, 1st T20I review and toss update on this live blog.