Cricketer-turned-expert Aakash Chopra has made his predictions for the 2nd T20I between India and New Zealand set to be played on Friday (November 18) at Ranchi Stadium. The Rohit Sharma-led team is leading the three-match series 1-0. India performed well sans a few senior players and managed to put on a dominating display with bat and ball.
The home team managed to restrict the visitors to just 164 as off-spinner Ravi Ashwin picked up two wickets. Later in the run-chase, Suryakumar Yadav played phenomenal innings of 62 and guided the team with five wickets in hand.
Meanwhile, for New Zealand, Mark Chapman, Martin Guptill, and Trent Boult played well. Chopra though feels Kiwi pacer Lockie Ferguson will be the most economical bowler in the 2nd T20I. The right-arm bowler conceded just 24 runs and managed to keep things tight in the first game.
"Lockie Ferguson to be the most economical New Zealand bowler. He is a fantastic bowler, the No.1 bowler if you talk about T20 cricket. He is one of the best the world has seen right now. There are few better bowlers than him. I want to keep him in the list of Bumrah and Jofra, he is almost there."
Chopra further lavished praise on Ashwin and feels he has been phenomenal since making a comeback in the team in T20Is. The expert has backed Ashwin and Axar Patel to pick two or more wickets in Ranchi.
"Ashwin and Axar to pick two or more wickets. Ashwin has been bowling sensationally, his comeback in white-ball cricket has been a fantastic story. Then you feel why was he dropped only and then when Washington Sundar was played, he did not do anything wrong, he only got injured.
"Now he is out and Ashwin has come. Till when will Ashwin stay, the way he is bowling, he should stay for long. Axar is keeping the place warm, that as soon as Jadeja is available, he will just walk into the side."