IND vs ENG Dream11 Prediction: 3 Top Captain Or Vice-Captain Choices For 2nd ODI

Soumyajit Dutta

Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler are among the top choices as fantasy team captains [Source: @TheBarmyArmy/X.com]Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler are among the top choices as fantasy team captains [Source: @TheBarmyArmy/X.com]

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After thrashing England for a dominant win in the 1st ODI, India is ready to take on the English men in the 2nd ODI which is scheduled for February 9. The match is going to be staged at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. The match will be live at 1:30 PM IST.

India

Buoyed by their convincing win in the first ODI, India will aim to wrap up the series in the second match. Despite early hiccups in the chase, solid contributions from Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, and Axar Patel ensured a comfortable victory. 

The bowlers, led by Harshit Rana and the experienced Ravindra Jadeja, played a crucial role in restricting England under 250. With home conditions in their favour, India will look to fine-tune their batting and capitalize on England’s vulnerabilities to secure another win.

England

After a disappointing loss in the series opener, England faces a must-win situation to keep their hopes alive. Their aggressive start in Nagpur was undone by a middle-order collapse, highlighting concerns over stability. While Jos Buttler and Jacob Bethell impressed with half-centuries, the lack of support from the rest of the batting lineup remains a worry. 

Saqib Mahmood and Adil Rashid provided breakthroughs with the ball, but they need more support to challenge India's strong batting order. England will have to put up a more disciplined performance to level the series in the 2nd ODI.

Barabati Stadium, Cuttack - Pitch Report for 2nd ODI

The Barabati Stadium pitch offers a balanced contest between bat and ball. Pacers can extract swing and bounce with the new ball, while spinners become increasingly influential as the pitch dries out, offering turn and grip. 

Historically, most of the ODI matches played at Barabati has been won by teams choosing to bowl first and given the trend, the toss-winning captain may opt to bowl first and restrict the opponent within a small target.

Top 3 Captain and Vice-Captain Choices for IND vs ENG

3. Jos Buttler

Why Will Jos Buttler Be A Good Choice As The Captain Or Vice-captain?

Stellar Recent Form: Jos Buttler has been in solid touch with the bat, especially in the ODI format. In the first ODI against India, he top-scored for England with a composed 52 off 67 balls, anchoring the innings during a crucial phase. Despite a mixed run in the T20I series, where he managed 146 runs in five innings, his ability to score quickly at a strike rate of 137.74 makes him a dangerous batter in white-ball cricket.

Middle Order Anchor: Coming in at the middle order in ODIs, Buttler provides multiple scoring opportunities in fantasy cricket. His ability to stay at the crease and pace the innings effectively adds to his fantasy value. In ODIs, he often builds partnerships and plays match-defining knocks, ensuring consistent points through runs and his decent strike rate as seen in the T20I series against India. Hence, if he gets going, Buttler can be a game-changer, making him an ideal captain or vice-captain pick.

2. Axar Patel

Why Will Axar Patel Be A Good Choice As The Captain Or Vice-captain?

All-Rounder Advantage: Axar Patel is a valuable fantasy pick due to his dual ability to contribute with both bat and ball. As a left-arm spinner, he can pick up crucial wickets in the middle overs while maintaining a tight economy. In the T20I series, he scalped 6 wickets in 4 matches at an economy rate of 7.07. Additionally, his batting skills add extra fantasy points, making him a well-rounded option for captain or vice-captain in fantasy teams.

Good With The Bat: Axar has shown impressive form with the bat in the recent ODI scoring 52 runs off 47 balls. His vital half-century, guided India close to the target. His ability to accelerate when needed and stabilize the innings makes him a dependable lower middle-order batter, ensuring bursts of fantasy points at crucial moments of the game.

1. Shubman Gill

Why Will Shubman Gill Be A Good Choice As The Captain Or Vice-captain?

Can Anchor Innings: Shubman Gill plays one down, a position that allows him to anchor the innings and build partnerships after a tumble. Hence, his ability to stay long at the crease ensures he accumulates valuable fantasy points through quick singles and fiery boundaries. As a technically sound batter, he can handle both pace and spin effectively, making him a reliable pick in fantasy teams.

Stellar Form: Gill showcased his brilliant form in the first ODI against England, scoring a match-winning 87 off 96 balls. His well-paced innings provided stability to India's chase, highlighting his rhythm and confidence with the bat. With such a strong start to the series, he is expected to continue his fine form, making him a top choice for captain or vice-captain in fantasy cricket.