After winning the first T20I game of the three-match series, the Indian cricket team will aim to seal the series when they take on Australia in the second match on Sunday, December 6 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The Indian cricket team has been on a roll in the shortest format of the game-winning each of their last nine completed T20Is.
Australia vs India 2nd T20I Match Details
Date: December 06, 2020
Time: 01:40 PM IST
Venue: Sydney Cricket Ground
Pitch Report
The pitch at the Sydney Cricket Ground had turned out to be a batting paradise in the recently-concluded ODI series. The captain winning the toss will look to bat first and post a huge total on the board.
Player availability
Team India suffered a massive blow as all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was ruled out of the remainder of the T20I series against Australia. Jadeja had sustained a concussion in the opening encounter of the T20 series.
On the other hand, Australia skipper Aaron Finch is doubtful for the second T20I as he had picked up a hip injury during the last game at the Manuka Oval. The hosts have already lost the services of Ashton Agar and opener David Warner due to injuries.
The Kangaroos are also missing pace spearhead Pat Cummins who is being rested as part of workload management.
Meanwhile, Australia has released pace bowling all-rounder Cameron Green to play in the red-ball warm-up games ahead of the first Test.
Australia vs India 2nd T20I Predicted XI
Australia predicted XI: D’Arcy Short, Aaron Finch (captain), Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Moises Henriques, Matthew Wade (wicket-keeper), Sean Abbott, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, Josh Hazlewood, Adam Zampa.
India predicted XI: KL Rahul (wicket-keeper), Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli (captain), Sanju Samson, Manish Pandey, Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Yuzvendra Chahal, Deepak Chahar, T Natarajan
Australia vs India 2nd T20I Fantasy XI:
Wicket-keeper: KL Rahul (Vice-captain)
The Indian vice-captain looked in great touch in the opening match of the T20 series as he smashed a fifty to help the visitors set-up a competitive total on the board. KL Rahul had won the Orange Cap in the recently concluded Indian T20 League season after he amassed a staggering 670 runs in 14 games at an average of 55.83 with five fifties and one century.
Batsmen: Aaron Finch, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli (Captain), Steve Smith
Virat Kohli and Steve Smith are undoubtedly two of the greatest players of this generation. So, it’s basically a no-brainer to have them in any fantasy 11. On the other hand, Australia captain Aaron Finch gave the hosts a great start in their run chase at the Manuka Oval. Finch is expected to play an important role in their must-win game on Sunday. Meanwhile, Shikhar Dhawan will look to come good in the second T20I and help India secure the T20 series Down Under. The southpaw had been in good form in the recently concluded ODI series.
All-rounders: Hardik Pandya, Moises Henriques
Australia all-rounder Moises Henriques was the stand-out performer in the opening T20I as he chipped in with three important breakthroughs in the middle and also contributed with the bat (30 off 20) while chasing a competitive total of 162. On the other hand, Hardik Pandya looked in sensational form in the first T20I before throwing his wicket away. Pandya was at his destructive best in the recently-concluded ODI series, notching the scores of 90, 28 and 92 not out in the three matches,
Bowlers: T Natarajan, Yuzvendra Chahal, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
T Natarajan was the wrecker-in-chief for the Men in Blue, claiming three crucial wickets to help the visitors clinch the opening T20I by 11 runs. Virat Kohli will hope Natarajan can continue his good form in the second T20I as well. Yuzvendra Chahal, who came on as a concussion substitute in the second innings, is expected to play an important role in the second match of the T20 series at the SCG. On the other hand, Australia leg-spinner Adam Zampa was the stand-out bowler for the hosts in the last game, finishing with figures of 1/20 in his quota of four overs. Meanwhile, Josh Hazlewood has been the biggest nemesis of the famed Indian batting line-up in the ODIs. He was quite expensive in the first T20I, but is tipped to regain his lost touch on Sunday.
Feature image courtesy: AFP / David Gray
