Nearperfect India eye series wrap

Virat Kohli’s boys have the edge at brand new Barsapara against a rudderless Australia

GUWAHATI: Winning has become a habit for India these days. And whenever Virat Kohli’s boys get close to a series victory, it is more anticipation than anxiety as the hosts face Australia in the second T20I of a three-match series here on Tuesday. Having clinched a nine-wicket win in the rain-affected Ranchi tie, a win would not only seal the series but propel India to one point adrift of Pakistan, the No 2 ranked T20I side.

The simple equation has made the build-up a celebrated affair in Guwahati, which will host an international cricket match after seven years, and that too at a brand new 37,000-capacity stadium in Barsapara.

TICKING ALL BOXES

In the first match, India went about their business in perfect manner. Opting to bowl, they removed stand-in captain David Warner in the first over and topscorer Aaron Finch just when he was starting to accelerate. That triggered another batting collapse to restrict Australia to a low total.

It was the well-organised bowling unit that helped set up the win. Be it the tight bowling of Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the early overs or wrist spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav hunting in a pair in the middle or Jasprit Bumrah’s accurate deliveries to clean the lower order, the bowling combination looks ideal to finish the task. FIGHTBACK?

Facing India’s bowlers who are on song at home has been an onerous task for Australia, who are also without injured skipper Steve Smith. Finch has been an exception. Since coming into playing XI in the third ODI, he has been the most consistent Australian batsman. He scored a century and almost got another in the fourth ODI. In the first T20I, his effort saw Australia get close to a par score in Ranchi.

But once he fell, the middle-order collapsed again. From 76-2 they were reduced to 89-5 in three overs, and from 111-5 they collapsed to 114-8 in one over.

Despite having David Warner and Glenn Maxwell in their ranks, the Australians’ lack of fight has made for poor viewing. Kuldeep and Chahal have read them easily. They outfoxed the rivals in Ranchi, on a pitch which stayed low and added to Australia’s despair.

It is not only India’s bowlers that Australia will have to contend with.

The batsmen too have made full use of familiar conditions. Shikhar Dhawan returned after a long gap and stayed unbeaten while Virat Kohli guided India to another win.

Nathan Coulter-nile and debutant Jason Behrendorff did bowl tightly in India’s six-over chase, to take the shortened T20I to the last over. They will have to do more of that, or Kohli would smile his way to a second T20I series win at home in 2017. The 37,000 capacity Barsapara Stadium is the new cricket stadium of the city. The Nehru Stadium hosted 14 ODIS between 1983 and 2010. Barsapara Stadium will become the 18th venue to host Twenty-20 International matches in India. Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Jamtha (Nagpur) holds the record of hosting the highest number of Twenty-20 International matches in India.a total number of 11 Twenty-20 interntionals were played at this ground between 2009 and 2017.