IND v AUS 2020, 2nd T20I: Australia's predicted playing XI

Australia return to the Sydney Cricket Ground for the 2nd T20I of the 3-match series against India.

The Kangaroos need a win to take the series to a decider, but unfortunately for them, they have a number of injuries to contend with.

Captain Aaron Finch suffered a glute strain in the 1st T20I, and he is awaiting the results of a scan. David Warner and Ashton Agar are the other regulars who have been ruled out with injuries.

Keeping these facts in mind, here's how Australia could line up for the 2nd T20I against India.

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Openers: D'Arcy Short, Marcus Stoinis

Australia Nets Session & Team Photo

Aaron Finch didn't sound too optimistic of making a quick recovery from the injury he sustained while fielding in the 1st T20I. He stated after the game that the issue got 'progressively worse throughout', and we might see him sit this one out.

In his absence, Australia have a few options that they can open the batting with - Matthew Wade, Alex Carey, Marcus Stoinis and Marnus Labuschagne. Three of these batsmen open the batting regularly in the Big Bash League, and Australia don't have many other options at their disposal.

If Stoinis recovers from his side strain, he could be the man to partner D'Arcy Short at the top of the order. The all-rounder's injury has kept him out of the final two ODIs and the 1st T20I, and he could make a return to the playing XI in this game.

Even if he's not fit to bowl, Stoinis could play as a specialist batsman. He'll be boosted by his exploits opening the batting in the Indian Premier League and the Big Bash League, in which he finished as the leading run-getter by some distance.

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Middle order: Steve Smith (c), Alex Carey (wk)

Steve Smith

Australia named Matthew Wade as their vice-captain for the 1st T20I, but the wicket-keeper's place in the side is far from certain. We could see Steve Smith make a return to captaincy for the first time since the infamous ball tampering scandal.

The 31-year-old has been in excellent batting form for his country in this series, and seems to be back to his best following indifferent campaigns in the Indian Premier League and in England.

The role of the gloveman is a straight toss-up between Wade and Carey, and the latter might be given the nod this time. Wade looked far from his best in the 9 balls that he faced in the 1st T20I, and holed out in the deep off the last ball of Yuzvendra Chahal's spell.

Carey, on the other hand, has been in decent nick for Australia, and has finished off a number of innings for his country in the recent past. An excellent player of spin and an assured presence lower down the order, he might be what the Aussies need to turn the series around.

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All-rounders: Glenn Maxwell, Moises Henriques

Glenn Maxwell

Glenn Maxwell couldn't replicate his ODI heroics in the 1st T20I, as he was deceived by an excellent piece of bowling from debutant T Natarajan.

The all-rounder didn't get to bowl as well, and he'll be keen on making an impact in a format that hasn't treated him well over the last few months. Maxwell came in at No. 4 in the previous game, but he should move back down either one or two positions.

Moises Henriques was the star of the show for Australia in the 1st T20I, as his 3-wicket haul and brisk cameo threatened to win the game for his team. The veteran all-rounder, who has made a comeback to the Aussie white-ball setups after a long hiatus, will be one of their key players with the series on the line.

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Bowlers: Daniel Sams, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Swepson

Josh Hazlewood

If Marcus Stoinis is fit to bowl, Australia might choose to play a batsman - such as Marnus Labuschagne - instead of one of these bowlers. But if he isn't, the hosts will have to field five frontline bowlers, since Glenn Maxwell can't be trusted to contribute against India's right-handed batsmen in the middle order.

Sean Abbott and Mitchell Swepson didn't impress in the previous game. The latter picked up the wicket of Virat Kohli and has been in excellent form in the Sheffield Shield, so he might be given another opportunity to prove himself at the international level.

Abbott, on the other hand, might not be as lucky after two indifferent performances in a row. Australia have pacers like Andrew Tye and Daniel Sams on the bench, and the left-armer, who offers a bit more with the bat and has had some match practice in the recent past, might enter the playing XI.

Adam Zampa is guaranteed to be in the team, while Mitchell Starc should also be given another game after he finally found form in the 1st T20I. Josh Hazlewood was far from impressive in the previous game, and he's part of the Test squad as well. Although a case could be made for the 29-year-old to be rested, he should feature in the XI for the 2nd T20I.

Nathan Lyon was added to the T20I squad, but the off-spinner has played only two games in the format for Australia with his last appearance coming in 2018. It is unlikely that he will be thrown into the thick of things immediately, especially with India losing their only middle-order southpaw in Ravindra Jadeja to injury. Ashton Agar has been ruled out of the series as well.