The second T20 of the three-match series will start tomorrow at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Melbourne. India, having won the first T20, will eye to seal the series in Melbourne while Australia is expected to come hard at Indians to restore the parity in the series.
In the last ODI, India defeated Australia by 37 runs. Batting first they scored 188 with the help of Virat Kohli’s 51 balls 90. India also got good assistance from bowlers. Unlike, the ODI series India got a good assistance from bowling department which comprised of young Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya.
With Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja stopping Australian batsmen at a crucial juncture of the match, young bowlers also did well as India had a good day at Adelaide.
Now, on Friday they will play the second T20 of the series at Melbourne Cricket. India lost only three wickets in the last T20 International. So, the middle order will be tested if the top order fails. Although Australian bowling without any key fast bowler has failed to pose any challenge to Indian batsmen.
However, people are keen to see Yuvraj Singh bat, who made a comeback to the Indian side after the 2014 World T20 in Dhaka. With the World T20, 2016 is just two months away, Indian players’ performance in this series is under the scanner of selectors.
Veteran player Ashish Nehra in the last match failed to impress as he was battered in his second over. But he managed to get one wicket of Kane Richardson. So, in the second T20 at MCG Indian bowlers may face a massive challenge from Australia’s power packed batting line up comprised of David Warner, Aaron Finch, Steve Smith, Chris Lynn and Shane Watson.
Predicted XI: Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni (C) (Wk), Yuvraj Singh, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah and Ashish Nehra.
Date: January 29, 2016
Time: 13:08 IST
Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
TV listing: Star Sports 1, Star Sports 3, and Star Sports HD 3