Last Updated on 4 years by Charbel Coorey

AUS vs IND 2nd T20I Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | AUS vs IND 2nd T20I Dream11 Prediction Today | Australia vs India 2nd T20I Key Players | SCG Pitch Report

It was quite the match in the first T20I, wasn’t it? Controversy, momentum swings and drama headlined a match full of talking points, as India took a 1-0 series lead.

Now, the question for the Indians will be whether they can replicate their Canberra form at Sydney, where they were poor in the opening two ODIs. Confidence will be high, however, on two fronts. The first is that India have won both their T20Is against Australia at the SCG. Secondly, there is a good chance that Australia will be without skipper Aaron Finch due to injury, in addition to Mitchell Starc’s absence, which will well and truly test Australia’s depth.

So, how will Australia respond to their injury worries and the first up defeat? D’Arcy Short’s inability to nail the T20 International format continued in the opening T20I, which puts the onus on him should Finch be ruled out. Also, onus will be on Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell to provide the impetus during the middle and death overs; two periods which the Aussies struggled in at Canberra.

With the batting under pressure, the bowlers will have to keep a talented Indian side in check. Australia’s death bowling was costly in both the third ODI and first T20I in Canberra, in contrast to India’s which has been quite strong given the inclusion of the talented T Natarajan. So, which side will hold their nerve better in a must-win game for the Aussies?

Also read: 5 talking points for India from the first T20I vs Australia

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

• In two T20Is on this ground, Virat Kohli has struck two fifties (61* and 51). His issues against legspin resurfaced in the opening T20I, so it will be interesting to see how he responds.
• If Aaron Finch is ruled out, Australia would be well served in playing Matthew Wade as opener. Wade has struck 943 runs in his last two BBL seasons at an average of 44.90 and SR 155.10.
• The spotlight will be on KL Rahul, despite striking a half-century last game. Can he up his strike rate? He’s had a superb year in T20Is to date (8 inns, 374 runs, 4 50s, avg. 53.42), but India will be looking for him to take his strike rate to another level after his IPL campaign (SR 129.34).
• Steve Smith will be crucial for Australia. He slammed two 62-ball centuries on this ground in the ODIs, so can he transfer that form into the T20Is?
• Glenn Maxwell will also be crucial. He smashed 167 runs (including two fifties) at a strike rate of 194.18 in ODIs. So, can he transfer this form into the T20s against a team whom he has a good T20I record against? (13 inns, 355 runs, avg. 32.27, SR 144.89).
• Sanju Samson looked dangerous for his 23 (15) in the first T20I before getting out. Can he make a start this time and then go on with it?
• Hardik Pandya also had a superb ODI series (India’s leading run-scorer with two 90+ scores). Watch out for the hard-hitting right-hander as India will look to finish with a flourish in the absence of Ravindra Jadeja.
• The addition of Yuzvendra Chahal at Canberra was a stroke of luck for India. He was magnificent (3/25), and will be looking to produce the goods at a ground he struggled at in the ODIs (1/89 and 0/74).
• Adam Zampa (1/20) was terrific in the opening T20I. He has taken 14 wickets in his last 12 T20Is.
• What a great impact T Natarajan has made in his two international matches so far. On T20I debut, the yorker specialist took 3/30, holding his nerve beautifully throughout the innings. His partnership with Jasprit Bumrah could be key for India – Bumrah has the most wickets in AUS-IND T20Is with 15 in 11 matches.

Stats and Facts

• Head-to-head: Matches 21, Australia 8, India 12, N/R 1.
• India have won their last nine completed T20Is. Also, India have won six of their past seven completed T20Is against Australia in Australia.
• Washington Sundar produced a magnificent spell of 0/16 in the first T20I. He will be key once again.
• Moises Henriques performed well in the opening T20I (3/22 and 30).
• Shikhar Dhawan recently struck two centuries in the IPL. He will want to improve his career record vs Australia (11 inns, 267 runs, avg. 26.70, SR 139.06). Can he build on it?
• Andrew Tye could replace Mitchell Starc. Tye has five wickets in three T20Is at the SCG.

Possible Playing 11

Australia have injury worries. After injuries to David Warner and Ashton Agar, it looks like Aaron Finch will miss out with a glute/hip injury sustained in the opening T20I. Also, Mitchell Starc is out for the remainder of the T20I series due to personal reasons.

So, Australia have decisions to make. One option is to move Matthew Wade to opener, with either Alex Carey or Marnus Labuschagne slotting into the middle order. It must be remembered that Labuschagne scored a hundred in an intra T20 warm up match in England earlier this year, so he is capable.

Australia: 1. D’Arcy Short/Aaron Finch, 2. Matthew Wade, 3. Steve Smith, 4. Glenn Maxwell, 5. Marnus Labuschagne/Alex Carey, 6. Moises Henriques, 7. Sean Abbott, 8. AJ Tye, 9. Mitchell Swepson/Nathan Lyon, 10. Adam Zampa, 11. Josh Hazlewood

Manish Pandey looked uncomfortable at number five, scoring 2 (8) in the first T20I. Also, there is a chance that Jasprit Bumrah will return after he was rested in the first T20I. Ravindra Jadeja is out with injury and concussion.

India: 1. Shikhar Dhawan, 2. KL Rahul (wk), 3. Virat Kohli (c), 4. Sanju Samson, 5. Manish Pandey/Shreyas Iyer, 6. Hardik Pandya, 7. Washington Sundar, 8. Deepak Chahar, 9. T Natarajan, 10. Jasprit Bumrah/Mohammed Shami, 11. Yuzvendra Chahal

Sydney Cricket Ground Pitch Report and Weather

Flat pitches were on offer in the two ODIs on this ground. Another good batting pitch can be expected, and the SCG is a traditionally slower surface. So, cutters into the track can be an important tactic to vary it up. Swing might be minimal as a mild, dry night is forecast.

The chasing team has won six of seven completed T20Is at the SCG. In the no result last year, Australia were well on track to win chasing against Pakistan.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

Option 2:

Match Prediction

Australia’s injury worries, and India’s excellent T20I record in recent times, makes India the favourites in this one. It will take a special performance from Australia’s key players to win this one, as one feels that India have more players that can take the game by the scruff of the neck.

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