Australia vs India: 2nd T20I, Preview- After Brisbane reality-check, can India hit back hard?

Prior to the first T20I at The Gabba in Brisbane, India were speculated to be the favourites against Australia bearing in mind their recent form. However, the home team didn’t drop the gun and gave their opponents a run for their money to eventually win the match by four runs. The Duckworth Lewis Stern method also helped the Aussies cruise past Virat Kohli’s men in the thriller.

India lacked experience in the bowling and the Aussies didn’t leave any stone unturned while laying into the likes of Krunal Pandya and Khaleel Ahmed, who conceded a combined tally of 97 runs in their seven overs. As far as Australia were concerned, they would’ve wished to make a comeback after their defeat against South Africa in the one-off T20I in Queensland and they did it expertly.

The next match is scheduled to be played tomorrow at the renowned Melbourne Cricket Ground and Aaron Finch and Co would be desperate to script their first series victory ever since the ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town. For the visiting home, the next encounter is a do-or-die one and they wouldn’t want to go into the last match in Sydney, having already lost the three-match series.

Team Combination 

Australia

Australia won’t want to tinker with their winning combination. Short and Lynn are the openers with Chris Lynn to bat at number three. All-rounders Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis need to step up again. McDermott and Carey will have their roles to play as well. The pace attack has the likes of Stanlake, Tye and Behrendroff in their ranks. Adam Zampa is the specialist spinner.

Predicted XI

D’Arcy Short, Aaron Finch (C), Chris Lynn, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Ben McDermott, Alex Carey (wk), Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa, Jason Behrendroff, Billy Stanlake

India

The Men in Blue may rest either Krunal or Khaleel for the next match and bring in leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal. Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan are the openers with Lokesh Rahul, who would want to make amends, at number three. Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik are the men thereafter. Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar are the fast bowlers. Kuldeep is a must in the lineup.

Predicted XI

Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Lokesh Rahul, Virat Kohli (C), Rishabh Pant (wk), Dinesh Karthik, Krunal Pandya/Khaleel Ahmed, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah

Focus will be on

Rohit Sharma- India

The 31-year-old scored his fourth T20I century earlier, but apart from that, he has been a tad indifferent. Even in the last match, he didn’t look at ease before being dismissed by left-armer Jason Behrendroff. India would be looking up to the seasoned campaigner to deliver the goods. Rohit undoubtedly has the ability to win matches single-handedly for the national team.

D’Arcy Short- Australia

Short has had a superlative time in Australia’s domestic cricket, but he somehow hasn’t been able to translate it into international cricket. The other day in Brisbane, he had a tough time in the middle as he could only manage seven runs from 12 balls with one boundary. The left-handed batsman tried to break the shackles but fell prey to speedster Khaleel Ahmed.

Head to Head

Matches – 16 | Australia won – 6 | India won – 10

In Australia

Matches – 7 | Australia won – 3 | India won – 4

Stat Attack

58– Runs Rohit Sharma needs to become the leading run-getter in the T20I format surpassing Guptill’s tally of 2271.

198 – Number of dismissals Dinesh Karthik has effected in his Twenty20 career as a wicketkeeper. He needs two more dismissals to become the 4th keeper with 200 T20 dismissals.

Broadcast Details

TV – Sony Six and Sony Six HD

Live Streaming – Sony LIV

Match Timings – 13:20 IST; 17:50 local

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