Match Preview: India Favorites at SCG, Australia under pressure
New Delhi (Sydney), 6/12: After winning two matches on the trot, the Indian Team is back in Sydney where they lost two ODI’s successively. But can they do away with their horror run in Sydney? We will get to know this Sunday when they take on the home team in the second t20i. India is 1-0 up in the series and goes into the match as hot favorites.
Considering the fact that India scored a respectable 160 odd despite the failures of Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan is a big positive for them, as India has failed to set targets in the recent past. India would hope that their bowlers come good in this match too. With the emergence of T Natarajan, the death bowling is taken care of, and the way Yuzi Chahal and Washington Sundar bowled in the last match the spin department also looks good. The biggest setback for India is the absence of star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja who played a match-winning knock of 44 in the last game. His injury and his concussion substitution had started quite a stir in the Australian dressing room and Australian media.
Australia would be disappointed with the way they lost the last match after getting a good opening stand. With uncertainty over Captain Aaron Finch’s fitness, the batting looks timid. They would hope Maxwell and Steve Smith come out all gun blazing in the second T20I. The bowling unit will be under the pump, because of the unavailability of their strike bowler Mitchell Starc, who has pulled out of the remaining matches. Adam Zampa was the only silver lining in the previous match and the inclusion of Nathan Lyon may boost the bowling a bit. Australia would be under tremendous pressure coming into this match.
The pitch at the SCG is expected to be a belter and the power hitters from the sides will come into the play. The bowlers will play a huge role in this contest. With Australia’s injury concerns, India would start favorites to win this one and seal the series. We are in for a mouth-watering contest at the SCG on Sunday.
