Kohli & Co. look to seal the series
Guwahati, Oct. 9: Overwhelmingly dominant so far,India would be aiming to wrap up another series win when they take on a faltering Australia in the second Twenty20 International here on Tuesday.
The ACA-Barsapara Stadium will be making its international debut with tomorrow’s match, adding to the growing list of cricket venues in the country. The India-Australia limited-overs series so far has been a one-sided a contest as Virat Kohli and Co. effortlessly grabbed the ODI rubber 4-1.
Extending the domination in the three-match T20I series, India routed Australia by nine wickets in the rain-hit opening match two days back in Ranchi to take a 1-0 lead. Their T20I rivalry is lopsided as India have won 10 and lost four out of the 14 matches played. The hosts have won seven matches in a row, and they have not lost to Australia in T20Is since September 28, 2012.
The visitors will have to play out of their skins to arrest the slide and level the series ahead of the last T20I in Hyderabad on October 13.
For that to happen, Australia will have to unravel the mystery of India’s latest wrist spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal who have shared 16 wickets between them in four ODIs and one T20I.
The duo has been the big difference between the two sides as Australia have failed to read their variations and looked inept in exploiting the conditions.
It’s surprising given that most of the Australian batsmen are familiar with the conditions here having played in the Indian Premier League.
The Australian batting has mostly revolved around the top three of Warner, Finch and Steve Smith, and with the skipper ruled out of the series with a shoulder injury, it would be a challenge to counter the Indian spin challenge and bounce back in the series.
Australia would hope that the big-hitting Glenn Maxwell returns to form after a pathetic run of 39, 14, 5 in the ODIs and 17 in the opening T20I.