Will Shardul Thakur play in 2nd ODI? Predicting India's likely playing XI against Zimbabwe

Team India began the three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe in some style winning the first game by 10 wickets. The Indian bowlers despite the 70-run stand for the 9th wicket were able to dismiss the hosts for just 189. The total was never going to be enough for the hosts to defend and the Indian openers Shikhar Dhawan and Shubman Gill only piled on Zimbabwe's misery as they chased down the total unbeaten.

Coming into the series, the focus was on a couple of players, skipper KL Rahul and the pace bowling all-rounder Deepak Chahar, who were returning from their respective injuries after a long lay-off, the latter especially, after 6 months. Chahar looked impressive as he got the ball to move and snared a couple of early wickets, which must have settled his nerves down.

Chahar added one more wicket to his tally as he registered figures of 3/27, playing a vital role in restricting Zimbabwe. Rahul, who was slotted in at No. 4 didn't get a chance to bat in the series opener and some game time for him with the bat will be on the Men in Blue's agenda apart from winning the series, in the second game.

Since only Dhawan and Gill batted, there are unlikely any changes to take place in the batting department, the bowling too looked solid with 6 options, even though only five were used. Prasidh Krishna, with the bounce he gets was preferred ahead of Shardul Thakur and even though he leaked 50 runs in his eight overs, he managed to pick three wickets as well and it might help him retain his place in the side for one more game.

India's likely playing XI for 2nd ODI vs Zimbabwe: Shubman Gill, Shikhar Dhawan, Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul (c), Deepak Hooda, Sanju Samson (wk), Axar Patel, Deepak Chahar, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj