India vs Australia 2019: 3 changes India could make for the 2nd T20I

India were edged out by Australia in a nail-biting encounter at Visakhapatnam on Sunday. Having set the visitors a moderate target of 127, the hosts failed to keep their cool in the last over as they contrived to give away 14 runs.

The Indian selectors named a near full-strength team for the two twenty-over games against the Aussies, with Kuldeep Yadav and Bhuvneshwar Kumar the only regulars missing out.

Hence, India was expected to come through the pair of games unscathed. Yet, after 40 overs of patchy performance, they now find themselves playing catch up.

Moreover, with the series being a two-match affair, the onus is now on India to turn things around at Bengaluru. Else, they run the risk of losing a T20I series at home for the first time since the 2016 ICC World T20.

Thus, through the course of this article, we analyse three tweaks the Indian team could make to enhance their chances of winning come the do-or-die encounter on Wednesday.

Without further ado, here is a look at them:

---

#3 Drop Umesh Yadav

Yadav had a game to forget

The Vidarbha fast bowler made a return to the Indian team for the 1st T20I. Several opined the move to be a good one as it accorded the pacer a chance to bowl himself into the World Cup reckoning. However, Umesh turned in an insipid performance on Sunday which culminated in a shocking last over.

If Yadav is shown the door, his obvious replacement would be Siddarth Kaul. The fast bowler from Punjab has been around the India A circuit for a while and has given a good account of himself whenever called upon.

Moreover, with India likely to field only a couple of front-line fast bowlers again, Kaul’s propensity to execute the yorker efficiently could come in handy.

Though it would be extremely harsh to drop Yadav after a solitary bad game, overlooking Umesh in favour of Kaul isn’t that bad a move. After all, the hosts can try one more fast bowler to narrow down on their options.

And if India really plans on experimenting with as many players as possible before the World Cup, the latter just has to play at Bengaluru.

#2 Play Vijay Shankar

Vijay Shankar impressed in New Zealand

Despite an impressive T20I and ODI series in New Zealand, Vijay Shankar was given the axe for the first game at Visakhapatnam.

However, the all-rounder’s omission was a combination of Virat Kohli coming back into the fold and the Indian team management according the likes of KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant time in the middle.

Yet, India could be inclined to bring back Shankar due to his ability to double up as a sixth bowler. In the 1st T20I, Umesh and Mayank Markande went for plenty. However, with India not boasting of a sixth bowler, they were forced to stick with them when under the cosh.

Thus, with Shankar in the mix, India would possess a decent batsman capable of relieving some of the pressure off the regular bowlers, if need be.

But, the inclusion of the all-rounder would be potentially problematic with India’s middle order brimming with talent.

Though Pant failed to inspire at Visakhapatnam, the Indian team would be extremely naïve to drop him. Hence, the hosts need to play one of MS Dhoni or Dinesh Karthik in the 2nd T20I.

It would make more sense for India to exclude either because Dhoni’s place is set in stone for the World Cup while Karthik is batting himself out of contention with each passing game.

Vijay Shankar would lend the Indian team with the balance that was sorely lacking in the first game. If they actually give him the nod is anyone’s guess right now but it certainly is an option they can’t ignore.

#1 Play Shikhar Dhawan

Dhawan should return to the fold in the 2nd T20I

The left-hander was handed a rest in the 1st T20I to provide Rahul with the platform to showcase his talents. However, the Indian team must realise that too much time on the side-lines could be detrimental for the streaky Shikhar Dhawan.

Throughout his career, Dhawan has either blown too hot or too cold. His purple patches have been immensely prolific whereas his lean patches haven’t particularly been a sight to behold.

Thus, with the World Cup dawning upon India, they need Dhawan to be playing games to keep himself in touch. The consensus would be to bring the opener into the eleven at the expense of Rahul. Yet, the hosts should allow the duo to open together.

Rohit Sharma has been in the thick of action over the past few months as he was part of every series in the Southern Hemisphere. Hence, the mercurial opener needs to be rested appropriately before the mega event.

Moreover, Rahul strengthened his case for a permanent spot with a fluent fifty. And as was the case with Rohit a few years ago, the former’s precocious talent is too tempting to not utilise.

If India is actually brave enough to rest Rohit for a crucial fixture is a question better left unanswered for now. But if Dhawan returns in place of Rahul, the latter would consider himself extremely unfortunate.