Rain threat looms large on the 2nd T20I in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday as Suryakumar Yadav & Co aim to double lead after winning last-over thriller.
For fans, India vs Australia 1st T20 was a balm they needed to sooth the pain after losing the World Cup final. But the IND vs AUS 2nd T20 in Thiruvananthapuram is not about rivalry anymore. Yes, there could be Travis Head who single-handedly demolished India and Glenn Maxwell, who put the final nail in the coffin by scoring the winning run in the WC final. But for Suryakumar Yadav-led side, the 2nd T20I will be about consistency, hitting the mark and trusting the process. It is a chance for Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi and Prasidh Krishna to right the wrongs while for India Cricket Team, it is about getting the best out of the young brigade in the lead up to the T20 World Cup 2024.
For visitors, it is a rare T20I series that has hardly anything to offer apart from discovering their next match-winner. Travis Head was the man they discovered in a meaningless ODI series against England after T20 WC last year. If the weather permits and the rain stays away from the Greenfield Stadium, Australia would aim to level the series with big guns likely to return.
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| Match | India vs Australia, 2nd T20I |
| Venue | Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Date & Time | Sunday, November 26, 7:00 PM |
| Live Broadcast and Streaming Details | Sports 18, Colors Cineplex, and JioCinema |
Mighty Australia eyeing comeback
Australia showed an excellent display of batting in the first IND vs AUS 1st T20. Young batter Josh Inglis displayed sheer dominance with the bat as he smoked a 47-ball century, complemented by Steve Smith’s composed 52 off 41. Despite failing in the first IND vs AUS match, Marcus Stoinis remains to be a threat for team India. The Australian all-rounder has amassed 206 runs in the last 10 T20 matches. Stoinis has an excellent average of 41.2 and a staggering strike rate of 157.25.
As for India Cricket Team, Suryakumar Yadav led from the front on his captaincy debut with a blazing 42-ball 80. After struggles in ODI format, he found his mojo that everyone was looking for. While he may not enjoy batting on a low and slow Greenfield Stadium surface, it will be a challenge for him to drop the tag of flat track bully.
But if the pitch assists seamers with rain clouds hovering over the stadium, it is going to challenge the young brigade. Both openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad had forgettable outings while Tilak Varma too failed. In the absence of big guns, taking advantage of the opportunities will be crucial for them.
What looked rather mediocre was India’s bowling attack. The absence of key bowlers probably had an effect as Josh Inglis dominated Indian attack to power Australia to 208/3 in their 20 overs.
Mukesh Kumar and Axar Patel did bowl well but they found no success. They need wickets to show for while the likes of Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna and Ravi Bishnoi must contain runs while also taking wickets. While Prasidh and Ravi gave away over 50 runs each, Arshdeep conceded 41.
IND vs AUS Pitch Report:
The wicket at the Greenfield International Stadium is known for offering slow tracks. After receiving a beating in the first match, spinners are expected to play a crucial role in the India vs Australia 2nd T20. The skipper winning the toss might opt to have a bat first and post a formidable total on the board.
IND vs AUS Weather Update – It’s been raining in the leadup but the sky is expected to be clear on the matchday on November 26 (Sunday).
IND vs AUS Head-to-Head Record in T20I:
| Matches Played | 27 |
| India won | 16 |
| Australia won | 10 |
| NR | 01 |
India (Probable XI): Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ishan Kishan (wk), Suryakumar Yadav (c). Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar. Prasidh Krishna
Australia Probable XI: Travis Head, Steven Smith, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Matthew Wade(w/c), Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis. Jason Behrendorff, Adam Zampa
