Chahal in focus for do-or-die match
SYDNEY: Staring at an imminent defeat after seven successive series wins on trot, India will be looking for yet another solid bowling performance against a brittle Australian top-order in third and final T20 on Sunday. India were in with a very good chance of levelling the series in Melbourne on Friday after reducing Australia to 132 for 7 in 19 overs but rain put paid to their hopes.
Now a win at the SCG will at least let Virat Kohli’s team share the bragging rights and importantly remain in a good frame of mind before the real test begins at Adelaide on December 6.
India are unbeaten in T20 engagements since July 2017, when they last lost to West Indies in a one-off game in the Caribbean. They have won 20 out of 27 T20IS since then in different conditions. In doing so, India are unbeaten in nine consecutive T20 series since August 2017, including a drawn 2-match contest vs Australia at home (Oct 2017).
Last time in Australia, back in 2016, India had won the T20 series with a 3-0 margin.
Now though they can, at best, draw the series with a win and maintain their unbeaten record. In order to achieve this, India will like to carry on from where they left off in Melbourne. The bowling attack put in a more disciplined performance as compared to the Brisbane outing, and was able to put the Australian batting order under pressure.
Pre-game in Melbourne, there was talk that the team management might bring back Yuzvendra Chahal to re-ignite his partnership with Kuldeep Yadav. The stakes haven’t changed going into the series decider, yet India’s improved showing with the ball at Melbourne gives reason for picking an unchanged side.
Given the situation, skipper Virat Kohli showed surprising consistency in team selection and continued to back Krunal Pandya as all-rounder. The latter put in an improved showing of 1-26 in four overs, bowling Glenn Maxwell with a slow turner. The SCG wicket is known to be helpful to spinners and thus there is no case to leave Pandya out.
It remains to be seen if India will be tempted to play Chahal nevertheless, if conditions do turn out to be drier than in Brisbane and Melbourne.
STARC IN FOR STANLAKE
Pacer Mitchell Starc was drafted into Australia’s squad for the final T20 as a replacement for the injured Billy Stanlake. Stanlake suffered an ankle sprain during a catching drill on Friday.