Yuvraj unsure for second ODI against England

Indore, Nov 16: After mauling England with a margin of 158 runs, India will go into the second one-dayer with the confidence of putting yet another dominating performance here Monday.

India, though, have a reason to worry as their main architect of the Rajkot win Yuvraj Singh is doubtful for the match here.

Yuvraj, who made the England attack look pedestrian en-route his century, pulled a back muscle and batted with a runner during the first one-dayer.

The flamboyant left-hander missed the training session Sunday and is unsure for Monday's match .

"There is improvement in Yuvraj's condition, but we will take a final call on him before the match," Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni told reporters.

India will also be without Ishant Sharma, who has been rested for the second one-dayer due to an ankle sprain he suffered during the Test series against Australia.

India, however, can rest easy about their pace department as Zaheer Khan and Munaf Patel knocked off England’s top-order in the Rajkot ODI.

England on the other hand will have to improve on many counts and will need to get their act together, if they are fancying their chances against hosts.

England’s new skipper Kevin Pietersen, who started his tenure on a high winning the series against South Africa 4-0, will have plenty to think about the team combination.

After the humiliating loss in the first ODI, Pietersen received flak from English media, who said his “honeymoon period” was over.

England played with three pace bowlers and one spinner in Samit Patel in the first match, but the combination did not work. After India piled up 387 runs, it was a tough call for the batsmen to chase it.

"We were a bit tentative in Rajkot and could have been more aggressive," England coach Peter Moores said.

"We played some really good one-day cricket against South Africa and we want to make sure we go out and back ourselves to play that sort of cricket out here in India."

Dhoni, too,feels it is too early to write off England and that they will soon bounce back.

“We are focused on what needs to be done. They are a good side and they have a very good bowling attack. It's a much better attack than what they had two years ago. We are certainly not taking them lightly.”

“We are always wary of becoming complacent because, if we lose, we will be criticised that we were overconfident.”

Unlike the pitch at Rajkot that was tailor-made for batting, the track here is expected to be slower.

"The wicket will not be like the one at Rajkot. There will be wear and tear as the match progresses. It's dry and it will become slow and difficult to score,” Dhoni said.

--IANS