If there is one word that can be used to describe the Indian Cricket Team’s comeback in the two T20Is so far, it would be resounding. After suffering a 4-1 loss at the hands of the hosts in the 50-over format, MS Dhoni and his troops have regrouped superbly and now face the possiblity of ending their 20 day long tour with a 3-0 sweep of the T20 series, when the two teams meet at the Sydney Cricket Ground(SCG) on Sunday.
Broadcast Details
TV Channel: Star Sports 1, HD1 (English) and 3, HD3 (Hindi)
Online Stream: www.starsports.com
Date: January 31, Sunday
Time: 14:08 IST.
Venue: Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney, Australia.
For any other updates regarding the match, follow the Sportskeeda website.
Team News
India
One of the reasons for the Men In Blue’s success in the shortest format of the game has been the sensational batting of the Top 3 in the batting line-up. After enduring a tough start to the tour, Shikhar Dhawan has started to slowly get back into his groove and another good performance on Sunday will only further add to his confidence.
However, the other two players of the Top 3 wouldnt need to worry about confidence, for they will certainly have enough by now to fill an ocean. Ever since stepping foot Down Under, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been in surreal form and the Aussies have found it very very hard to dislodge either of them for a cheap score.
The success of these 3 has meant that there has been little pressure on the middle-order, even though Suresh Raina and skipper Dhoni have had a hit so far.
While the team’s batting has been impressive throughout the tour, it is the bowling that has seen a refreshing change. The inclusion of Jasprit Bumrah has provided the team with a much needed boost, especially in the back end of an innings with his insatiable appetite to bowl yorkers at will helping the team enormously.
Ashish Nehra hasn’t looked threathening thus far, and so he will look to make an impact on Sunday. After a horrendous opening over in international cricket, Hardik Pandya has looked much better in what ever remaining overs that he has bowled and his performance has been a big plus as well.
But if India are to thank anybody for their 2-0 lead, it is the spinners. Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin have played a big part in both the T20Is so far, coming into bowl with the Australians on a rampage and picking up crucial wickets to dent the hosts run flow.
Australia
If it has been all smooth sailing for the vistors, the same cant be said about the hosts. After laying their hands on the 50-over trophy only a week back, Australia’s fortunes have changed dramatically in the T20 series. For starters, there has been little improvement in their bowling with the likes of Scott Boland, Kane Richardson etc continuing to bleed runs and the absence of Mitchell Starc has been hurting them more than they would have imagined.
In both matches, Australia have got off to a blazing start, but have fizzled away as soon as Dhoni has introduced his spinners. Along with David Warner and Steve Smith, Australia will also miss the services of Aaron Finch on Sunday because of injury and the likes of stand-in skipper Shane Watson, Glenn Maxwell have to step up if they are to avoid a whitewash.
While Sunday may be a dead rubber in terms of the overall series point of view, it provides the Indians with a golden opportunity to complete a clean sweep over the Aussies in their own backyard and end their tour on a big high.
Possible Line-ups
India XI
Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni(C & WK), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravinchadran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Ashish Nehra.
Australia XI
Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Chris Lynn, Glenn Maxwell, Shane Watson(C), Matthew Wade(WK), James Faulkner, John Hastings, Andrew Tye, Scott Boland, Nathan Lyon.
Pitch & Conditions
If there is one pitch in Australia which assists the slower bowlers the most, it is the deck at at the SCG. Hence, the likes of Jadeja, Ashwin and even Yuvraj can hope to finish the tour on a high.
Key Stats
- If India win the series 3-0, they would jump to the top of the ICC T20I Rankings, and would have ample opportunities to maintain the numero uno position, as they play a T20I series against Sri Lanka in February and the Asia Cup that follows which would also be held in the T20 format for the first time.
- If India win the series, it would be their first ever T20I series win in Australia.
- Yuvraj Singh needs just 32 more runs to become the third Indian batsman to cross 1000 T20I runs after Suresh Raina and Virat Kohli.
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