IND vs WI, 2nd T20I: Samson refuses to slow down, completes 21-ball fifty

India vs West Indies Live Score, 2nd T20I: Sanju Samson's lean run is the lone sore point in an otherwise firing batting line-up and it will prompt the team management to ponder over pairing teen sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi with opener Abhishek Sharma in the second T20I against the West Indies in Ranchi on Friday.

A win in Racnhi will power India to a 2-0 lead in the five-match series, but the hosts will certainly want a more productive outing from Samson.

The Kerala batter's last four innings read: 9, 7, 2, 11. Consequently, the partnerships involving Samson in the previous four matches stand at: 7, 12, 2 (both for 2nd wicket with Sooryavanshi coming in as opener), and 29.

But the middle-order led by skipper Shreyas Iyer, who has finally found his footing as T20I captain, has covered up those failures in spectacular fashion. Iyer also hammered his maiden T20I century in the 68th match of his career.

So, there will be a temptation to give Sooryavanshi another run. The left-hander has shown that T20 cricket comes naturally to him in the limited opportunities he has received so far.

His wide and unique range of shots, coupled with the ability to produce match-winning knocks have made him a compelling package.

But India have so far backed the established opening combination of Abhishek and Samson.

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17:21 (IST) Oct 09

India vs West Indies Live Score: Mayank Yadav's expensive spell raises bowling questions

India could consider changing their pace-bowling combination after Mayank Yadav's expensive outing in the first T20I at Lucknow. He conceded 16 runs in his opening over and was costly during the middle overs and at the death. However, Mayank did manage to take an important wicket when he dismissed West Indies top-scorer Sherfane Rutherford in the penultimate over. The team management will have to decide whether to back him again or make a change for the Ranchi match as India look to build a 2-0 series lead.

17:03 (IST) Oct 09

IND vs WI Live Score: Sooryavanshi's talent comes with a learning curve

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has shown that he has the shots and confidence to make an impact in T20 cricket, but his early international outings have also offered a reminder that the step up is not easy. He scored 14, 13 and 15 during India's 0-3 defeat in the T20I series against England. At the Asian Games in Japan, he made 18 and 35. Those scores are not poor for a beginner, but they show why India must be careful about rushing the 15-year-old into a bigger role simply because of the attention around him.

17:03 (IST) Oct 09

India vs West Indies Live Score: Shreyas Iyer's century gives India breathing room

While Sanju Samson has struggled for runs, India's middle order has made sure his failures have not become a bigger problem. Captain Shreyas Iyer has played a key role in that recovery and has finally found his footing as T20I captain. He also scored his maiden T20I century in his 68th match in the format. That form gives India confidence heading into the second T20I, but it also raises the question of how long the middle order can keep covering for Samson. India will hope their batting line-up continues to fire in Ranchi.

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17:02 (IST) Oct 09

IND vs WI Live Score: Could Vaibhav Sooryavanshi open with Abhishek Sharma?

India's team management could consider pairing teen sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi with Abhishek Sharma at the top of the order for the second T20I. Sooryavanshi has impressed with his range of shots and ability to produce match-winning knocks in the limited chances he has received. However, India have so far backed the established opening combination of Abhishek and Samson. The decision will not be straightforward, as the team must weigh Sooryavanshi's potential against Samson's experience and the support the Kerala batter has received from the management.

17:01 (IST) Oct 09

India vs West Indies Live Score: Samson's lean run puts his place under scrutiny

Sanju Samson's recent scores have become a concern for India ahead of the second T20I against the West Indies in Ranchi. The Kerala batter's last four innings read 9, 7, 2 and 11, while his partnerships in those matches have been limited to 7, 12, 2 and 29. His struggles have not hurt India badly so far because the middle order has stepped up, but the team management will want more from him. The ongoing five-match series could prove important for Samson, who cannot rely on his past World Cup performances indefinitely.

17:00 (IST) Oct 09

IND vs WI Live Score: India look to go 2-0 up against West Indies

India will aim to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match T20I series when they face the West Indies in the second match in Ranchi on Friday. The hosts will be pleased with their batting form, but Sanju Samson's recent struggles remain a concern. India have enough firepower in the middle order to cover up his failures, with captain Shreyas Iyer leading the way after scoring his maiden T20I century in his 68th match. A win would put India in a strong position in the series, but the team management will also be looking for a better performance from Samson.

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India will also look at a change in their pace-bowling combination.

Mayank Yadav leaked 16 runs in the opening over of the first T20I at Lucknow and was expensive through the middle and at the death.

He, however, claimed the important wicket of West Indies top-scorer Sherfane Rutherford in the penultimate over.

India could be tempted to bring in all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy and trust him with the new ball, although that experiment did not work particularly well during the preceding ODI series.

The spin department, on the other hand, looked settled after Kuldeep Yadav joined veteran Axar Patel in the eleven. The pair picked up two wickets apiece and kept the West Indies batters under pressure.

Rookie all-rounder Naman Dhir was another positive to emerge, finishing with impressive figures of 3/31 with his off-spin.

For the West Indies, the batting has to produce far bigger total than the 171 all out they managed in the opening game.