Dhoni's revival continues and other takeaways from India's win in second ODI

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  • MS Dhoni was on song once again with the bat.

    India gave hosts New Zealand no respite in the second ODI at Mount Maunganui with the Men in Blue completing a comprehensive 90-run win.

    It was another dominant display from Virat Kohli and his men following their eight-wicket win in the first ODI at Napier as they took a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

    Having posted 324-4 in their 50 overs, India bowled out New Zealand for just 234 runs to cap off an impressive win.

    Here, we look at the key takeaways from India’s display in the second ODI.

    INDIA’S TOP ORDER REMAINS ON SONG

    It needs no saying really but India’s top-order is the envy of all international teams. It was evident once again on Saturday with Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan putting on a 154-run stand for the opening wicket.

    Rohit continued the sensational consistency he has shown in the ODI format for many years while Dhawan carried on from where he left off at Napier. The duo set up a solid platform for India to launch off from in the death overs with Rohit being unfortunate to miss out on a well-deserved ton.

    While Rohit and Dhawan excelled in the opening roles, skipper Kohli too was looking fluent on his way to 43. However, for the second time in a row, the India captain fell short of his half-century and he will be desperate to change that in the third ODI which will be his last outing in New Zealand before he returns home for a break.

    India's top-order continues to fly.

    India’s top-order continues to fly.

    DHONI’S REVIVAL CONTINUES

    One of the most pleasing aspects of India’s win in the second ODI was the batting performance of veteran MS Dhoni who continued his resurgence following a poor 2018.

    The India wicketkeeper had shown his mettle in the ODI series win over Australia with a man-of-the-series display and he proved that he can still provide explosive finishes with his performance on Saturday.

    It was only because of Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav’s exploits in the death overs that India went past the 300-run mark with the former smashing an unbeaten 48 off just 33 deliveries. Dhoni’s entertaining cameo contained five boundaries and a six and the 36-year-old is slowly rediscovering the touch that made him such a feared batsman in the death overs.

    Dhoni provided the finishing touches to India's innings.

    Dhoni provided the finishing touches to India’s innings.

    WILLIAMSON AND TAYLOR FAIL TO LIFT KIWIS

    Before the start of the series, Kohli had warned his team to be ready to chase down 300-plus targets in the five-match series given New Zealand’s formidable batting line up.

    That has not happened so far with New Zealand’s batting coming up a cropper in both ODIs. They were bowled out for just 157 at Napier and lasted just 40 odd overs on Saturday.

    Their batting woes can be attributed to the poor showings of skipper Kane Williamson and stalwart Ross Taylor. The two batsmen had been in exceptional form in 2018 but have failed to come to the party against India.

    Williamson started well on Saturday with two sixes and a boundary but then threw his wicket away while attempting to cut Mohammed Shami. Taylor too, got off to a decent start but he was uncharacteristically undone by Kedar Jadhav’s part-time spin to be stumped by Dhoni.

    Taylor failed to last long in the second ODI as well.

    Taylor failed to last long in the second ODI as well.

    KULDEEP WORKS HIS MAGIC ONCE AGAIN

    After a terrific 2018 in limited-overs cricket for Kuldeep Yadav, his 2019 started off on a poor note with the wrist-spinner failing to create an impact in the first two ODIs against Australia before being dropped for the decider at Melbourne.

    It has not taken Kuldeep long to get back to his best with the Kiwis bearing the brunt of his force in both ODIs so far. The youngster repeated his four-wicket haul in the Napier win with four wickets on Saturday that derailed New Zealand’s chase completely.

    The Kiwi top-order was already back in the dressing room before Kuldeep got to work his magic in the second ODI and the wrist-spinner went for the kill with the dismissals of the dangerous Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls and Colin de Grandhomme. The wicket of Ish Sodhi was the icing on the cake for Kuldeep who finished with figures of 4-45 from his 10 overs.

    With Kuldeep looking back to his best, India will have their tails up for the remainder of the series.

    Kuldeep continues to bamboozle the Kiwi batsmen.

    Kuldeep continues to bamboozle the Kiwi batsmen.

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