India v Australia, 2nd T20I preview, likely XIs: Wounded hosts seek revenge

Following their triumphant show Down Under, India had been firm favourites going into the T20I series. However, Australia went one-up by clinching a last-ball thriller in a low-scoring match at Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam.

The teams will now play the last T20I of the two-match series on February 26, 2019, at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru.

Head to head

India have an excellent record against Australia, having won 11 T20Is and lost 7. India’s 11 wins are their joint-most against a single country (they have also won 11 against Sri Lanka). On the other hand, Australia have lost more only against Pakistan (12).

India also hold a 4-2 advantage over Australia at home. However, Australia’s two wins have come in the last two T20Is between the sides here.

Venue details

India have played thrice at Chinnaswamy. They lost the first, to Pakistan, in 2012-13. A debutant Bhuvneshwar Kumar struck thrice in his first two overs, but Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik took the match away.

India have won their other two matches here. They beat Bangladesh in a World T20 match in 2016, where Bangladesh, requiring 2 off the last 3 balls, ended up losing three wickets. And Yuzvendra Chahal demolished England in the only other match, in 2016-17.

Australia have played here once, in the 2016 World T20, where they beat Bangladesh. Adam Zampa was the star on that occasion, though Usman Khawaja contributed with a fifty.

Players to watch

Yuzvendra Chahal (India): This is Royal Challenger Bangalore’s home ground – one that Chahal knows more than most. Chahal’s 6/25 here – figures bettered by only Ajantha Mendis – was a watershed spell that propelled him past senior leg-spinner Amit Mishra. He will be back to prove his merit.

Jason Behrendorff (Australia): Perth Scorcher boasts of an amazing array of T20 bowlers, but Behrendorff stood out with an economy rate of 6.24 in this edition of BBL. Tall and fast, Behrendorff was Player of the Match when Australia first won a T20I against India in India, back in 2017-18.

Likely XIs:

India: Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli (c), Rishabh Pant, MS Dhoni (wk), Dinesh Karthik, Krunal Pandya, Umesh Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Mayank Markande.

Australia: D’Arcy Short, Aaron Finch (c), Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Peter Handscomb (wk), Ashton Turner, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Jhye Richardson, Jason Behrendorff, Adam Zampa.

Prediction:

India had lost the previous T20I off the last ball; they are unlikely to lose nerve twice in two matches.