India aim to seal series in 2nd T20I as action returns to Sydney

By
Sneha Roy
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Sydney: India are 1-0 ahead in the T20I series after a win at Manuka Oval on Friday (December 4) and will aim to secure the series win as the teams head back for 2nd T20I at Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday (December 6).

After losing two ODIs at the beginning of the tour, India have pulled things back with back-to-back wins in Canberra’s Manuka Oval. The second of those came in the first T20I of the three-match series. The action shifts back to Sydney for the final two T20Is of the series and there are changes to be expected from both sides.

Australia have a doubtful starter in skipper Aaron Finch, who injured his hip in the first game. “The injury got progressively worse as the game went on,” Finch had said at the post-match presentation ceremony on Friday. If Finch misses out, Australia will possibly look at Matthew Wade, who was the vice-captain for the previous game, to lead the side.

The Australian squad, that had already undergone several changes last week with Pat Cummins being rested and David Warner ruled out, have to contend with more forced changes. Nathan Lyon has been called up to the squad while Cameron Green was released to play in the three-day tour game against India A.

On the other hand, Mitchell Starc has withdrawn from the T20I squad after being informed about a family illness. There will be no replacement for the fast bowler in the squad, since Andrew Tye and Daniel Sams are already a part of it.

India might also ring in changes to their line-up. Jasprit Bumrah could come back into the side, while Mohammed Shami might be given a break ahead of the Test series. With Jadeja ruled out, Chahal could be a straight swap in. 

India were propelled to a strong total by Ravindra Jadeja’s blitz before Yuzvendra Chahal, who came in as a concussion substitute for the former, picked up three wickets to win the Player of the Match award. Australia’s batting, in the absence of David Warner, couldn’t quite counter the Indian bowlers on a wicket that was two-paced. Earlier in the Indian innings, Moises Henriques made inroads with his slower deliveries to bag a three-wicket haul. 

Australia spinner Mitchell Swepson said, “That ability to spin the ball both ways puts doubt in the batsman’s mind. That’s where I think leg-spinners have that advantage in the T20 format.”

India spinner Yuzvendra Chahal said, “I had been watching Zampa especially because the ODIs hadn’t gone well for me. I wasn’t able to bowl the way I usually do. I was trying to work on my bowling, and make sure I make a good comeback whenever I get the chance.”

The Squads:

India: Virat Kohli (Captain), KL Rahul (VC & WK), Shikhar Dhawan, Mayank Agarwal, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Hardik Pandya, Sanju Samson (WK), Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Navdeep Saini, Deepak Chahar, T Natarajan, Shardul Thakur.

Australia: Aaron Finch (Captain), D’arcy Short, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Alex Carey (WK), Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood, Sean Abbott, Mitch Swepson, Nathan Lyon, Moises Henriques, Andrew Tye, Daniel Sams, Matthew Wade (WK).

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