After a sensational ODI series, the Men in Blue have also started off India’s T20 campaign versus Australia in the T20I series with a victory in the opening match at the JSCA International Sports Complex in Ranchi.
It was the Indian bowlers who helped the home team restrict the visitors to 118/8 in 18.4 overs before the game got halted due to incessant weather. Left-arm chinaman Kuldeep Yadav impressed yet again and bagged the Player of the Match Award for his impressive spell of 2/16 in his allotted four overs. It was a combined effort from the bowlers, as none of them went for too many runs. While Jasprit Bumrah bagged a couple of wickets in three overs for 17 runs, all the three other bowlers; Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal and Hardik Pandya returned with a wicket each.
Team News
India
The home team is not expected to change their winning combination. The return of Shikhar Dhawan has bolstered the top-order. India might make changes for the 3rd clash if they go on to clinch the series tomorrow (Tuesday), but as of now, the playing XI would likely be the same.
The inclusion of Ashish Nehra might be an option, but with Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah doing a terrific job, the return of the veteran to the playing XI seems distant. The top-order has been in sensational form, and the middle-order including Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav and MS Dhoni has come good in patches. Hardik Pandya had delivered whenever he has been sent up the order and given it’s just a 20 overs game so he might be pushed up the order tomorrow.
Note: Live Score of 2nd T20I can be followed here.
Predicted XI: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli (c), Hardik Pandya, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni (wk), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal
Australia
The Australian team has had a forgettable tour this time around and will be looking to make a turnaround in the 2nd T20I in a bid to keep their hopes alive in the series. Kane Richardson might be a possible replacement for the visitors at the expense of Jason Behrendorff. The youngster didn’t perform poorly in the 1st match so it should be unjust on his part to get dropped.
Their batting line-up consists of some of the biggest hitters in the game. The top three in the previous encounter was David Warner, Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell who on their day can tear apart any bowling line-up. They just need to click as a unit, and they will be hoping that tomorrow is the day.
Predicted XI: Aaron Finch, David Warner (C), Glenn Maxwell, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Daniel Christian, Tim Paine (wk), Andrew Tye, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Adam Zampa, Kane Richardson/Jason Behrendorff
Match Prediction
Given India’s sensational form, of late, it will be unjust to not call them favourites for Tuesday’s clash. Their bowlers have raised their hands up and performed on a consistent basis over the past few months. The main area of concern for the Men in Blue was bowling in the past, which seems to have gone to new heights with Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah’s exceptional death bowling,
The two leg spinners with different varieties, Yuzcendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav both have been at their best and will keep Ashwin and Jadeja out of the limited-overs team at least for a while.
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