How things have changed throughout the week. Last Sunday, India came close to enduring a series loss against Australia. But after a pair of victories, including an 11-race win in Canberra on Friday, India has staged a valiant comeback on the tour to be on the brink of a T20 series win. The last time India and Australia played a T20I series in Australia, in 2018, the series ended in a 1-1 draw, with rain sweeping through the first game. However, there is no such weather forecast for the next few days, which assures us of a winner.
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With the debate surrounding Yuzvendra Chahal as the surrogate for Ravindra Jadeja’s concussion refusing to shut down, India has a chance to divert attention if they can wrap up the series. India appears to have a leap in their footsteps, with two notable comebacks thanks to their hitting. From 152/5, India finished 302 and from 92/5, they finished 161/7, both at the Manuka Oval. However, with Jadeja at the center of both revivals, India’s hitting has received a major shake and the all-rounder was ruled out. Because of which, the responsibility will be among the top six in India to put on a better show.
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However, for Australia, the disabled list has grown. After David Warner and Ashton Agar, their captain Aaron Finch has suffered from injury and remains a dubious starter. If he fails, there will be a changing of the guard, and Matthew Wade is likely to take over. Without Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood will have to share most of the bowling responsibilities and hope Sean Abbott, Moises Henriques and others will contribute well. Cameron Green has been released to play for Australia A, so they are, as they are, a versatile shorts.
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What: India vs Australia, 2nd Q20I
When: Sunday 6 December 2020
Time: 1:40 pm IST
Venue of events: Sydney cricket ground
Team news
India: On Friday, Chahal replaced an injured Jadeja. The only difference on Sunday will be the inclusion of the leg-spinner from the beginning. The opening combination is likely to remain the same, as does Manish Pandey’s place at No. 5. Before the start of the series, Virat Kohli hinted that Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah will be rotated in view of the management of the workload, and since Shami is expensive he returns in the first Q20I, bet on Bumrah to get a game at SCG.
Probable XI: 1 Shikhar Dhawan, 2 KL Rahul (WK), 3 Virat Kohli (Captain), 4 Sanju Samson, 5 Manish Pandey, 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Washington Sundar, 8 Deepak Chahar, 9 T Natarajan, 10 Jasprit Bumrah 11 Yuzvendra Chahal
Australia: This is where things get a bit tricky. If Finch is not declared fit, Wade is the leading candidate to open batting with D’Arcy Short, giving Australia the option to include Alex Carey in the middle order. Nathan Lyon has been added to the team and will compete with Mitchell Swepson for second place alongside Adam Zampa.
Probable XI: 1 Aaron Finch / Matthew Wade (captain), 2 D’Arcy Short, 3 Steven Smith, 4 Glenn Maxwell, 5 Moises Henriques, 6 Alex Carey (WK), 7 Sean Abbott, 8 Mitchell Starc, 9 Mitchell Swepson / Nathan Lyon, 10 Adam Zampa, 11 Josh Hazlewood
Statistics and trivia
– With victories only in the opposition house (excluding neutral venues), India is on the winning streak of seven T20I in the opposition house as of August 6, 2019 to date.
– Mitchell Starc needs three strikes to complete 50 T20I terrains for Australia
– Virat Kohli has won seven consecutive T20Is as captain of India. One more victory will make him the first Indian captain with eight consecutive victories in the T20I.
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