Vaibhav Tripathi
A new-look Indian team secured a victory against a second-string Australian side in the first T20I held in Visakhapatnam, claiming a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. Despite the high-scoring nature of the game favoring India, the Australians won’t be overly disheartened, as they would take numerous positives from the defeat ahead of the second T20I in Thiruvananthapuram.
Australia rested key players like Travis Head, Glenn Maxwell, and Adam Zampa in the previous encounter. The question arises whether a single loss will prompt them to reintroduce their star players or persist with testing their bench strength. The return of Head, player of the match in the 2023 World Cup final, could pose selection dilemmas. Smith, playing as an opener for the first time in international cricket scored a fifty, while Josh Inglis played a breezy knock.
Meanwhile, the addition of Maxwell will lend balance to the team. The bowling unit, a weak link in the previous match, might see changes, possibly with the inclusion of Kane Richardson for added experience and the return of Zampa to bolster the attack.
On the other hand, for India, Suryakumar Yadav, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rinku Singh effortlessly met the demands of quick scoring in a record run-chase, although Kishan took a few overs to settle before shifting into overdrive. India anticipates another dynamic performance from this trio in the second match, with Kishan expected to minimize the count of dot balls. The bowling unit faced challenges against Inglis and Smith in the first game, with only Mukesh Kumar and Axar Patel making notable contributions. The bowlers will aim to refine their performance in the next T20I.
Time and Venue Details
India vs Australia. 7 PM. Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram
Expected Conditions
While this venue is not renowned for high scores traditionally, a favorable batting wicket is anticipated for this match. Although it may not be as flat as the previous one, batters are likely to enjoy good conditions f0r batting. Spinners, on the other hand, could find more assistance. If this scenario unfolds, India will hold the advantage. Additionally, there is an anticipation of rain showers in Thiruvananthapuram, possibly resulting in a rain-affected match.
Possible XIs
India: Having secured a win, India is likely to field the same playing eleven.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan (wk), Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar, Prasidh Krishna.
Australia: Travis Head, Glenn Maxwell and Adam Zampa are likely to play the second T20I.
Travis Head, Steven Smith, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Matthew Wade (c & wk), Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Jason Behrendorff, Adam Zampa.
Match-up:
Inglis vs Mukesh: Inglis smashed his maiden international ton. His explosive innings was laced with 11 fours and eight sixes. For India, Mukesh delivered an economical spell, amidst other bowlers facing a tough time. The impending battle between Inglis and Kumar promises to be a spectacle for fans, as one is a dynamic ball-striker, while the other excels in dictating terms during different phases of the game with the ball.
Players speak
“They are all pretty good players, I try to keep them guessing, just to stay one step ahead which is hard to do at times. Maybe, do what we can in terms of change in pace, line and length,” Jason Behrendorff, Australian seamer.