India vs West Indies, 2nd ODI: Suryakumar Yadav, KL Rahul guide hosts to decent total 

Suryakumar Yadav (64) and KL Rahul (49) played important individual knocks to take India to 237/9 despite some bowling brilliance from the West Indies which kept the scoring rate under check in the second ODI at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Wednesday. Asked to bat, by the West Indies stand-in skipper Nicholas Pooran, who took charge as Kieron Pollard had to sit out due to niggle, India openers Rohit Sharma (5) and Rishabh Pant (18) failed to get going. Former India captain Virat Kohli also continued to struggle for runs as he was sent packing for 18. 

Suryakumar Yadav-KL Rahul show resilience 

However, Yadav and Rahul, forged a key partnership of 91 runs for the fourth wicket to rescue the sinking Indian ship from 43/3 to 134/4. Rahul missed out on a half-century by a run as he was run out after facing 48 deliveries which consisted of four boundaries and two sixes. Yadav, meanwhile, played a well paced innings of 83 balls which included five boundaries. 

Following their dismissals, Washington Sundar (24) and Deepak Hooda (29), played important cameos to help India’s cause but the visitors continued to pick wickets at regular interval of time. 

All-round bowling brilliance from the West Indies 

Pooran utilized six bowlers in the second ODI and each of them repaid his faith by picking up at least one wicket. However, right-arm medium pacer Odean Smith was the pick of the bowlers as he returned figures of 29/2, in his spell of seven overs while the experienced Alzarri Joseph picked up two wickets for 36 runs. 

The still under development West Indies bowling unit also saw fast bowler Kemar Roach, all-rounder Jason Holder and spin twins Akeal Hosein, Fabian Allen picking up one wicket each. It helped the visitors restrict the hosts to a decent total with a chance of levelling  the series. 

India currently lead the three-match ODI series 1-0. 

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