Last Updated on 6 years by Charbel Coorey

Australia vs India 2nd ODI Preview Dream11

What started as a little friendly banter turned into a fantastic victory for Australia in the first ODI.

Indeed, Australia’s win was somewhat unexpected. They began the match as outsiders, fielding a side filled with changes, but it was the performance they were hoping for. The middle order set the platform, limiting too much damage in the middle overs, with 288 then proving enough thanks to three very early wickets led by the excellent Jhye Richardson. Can Australia seal the series and pick up a big scalp in a World Cup year?

While Australia were good, India weren’t. Plenty of middle over wickets, good death bowling and top order runs have been the hallmark of India’s ODI cricket over the past few years, but that went out the window in Sydney. Jasprit Bumrah was missed, but except for Rohit Sharma, and a little flicker of hope from MS Dhoni, India were well off the pace with the bat against an Australian attack that showed plenty of effort. Will they bounce back quickly? They have to with the series on the line.

Key to an Australia win

It was just one game, but Australia gave fans reasons for optimism. The batsmen executed what they set out to do, laying a platform for Marcus Stoinis to go hard at the end. Aaron Finch will be of huge importance to help Australia have a strong start, given Alex Carey, Usman Khawaja and Shaun Marsh are natural accumulators. Peter Handscomb will also be key for middle overs momentum, giving Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell a platform to go big again. Can Australia execute their plans for the second match in a row?

Also, how brilliant was Jhye Richardson in the first ODI? It was his coming of age in an Australian shirt, tearing through India early to leave their chase in ruins. He will be crucial at the top again against a side whose top three has contributed two-thirds of their runs since the beginning of 2017, along with Jason Behrendhorff who was also impressive in Sydney. Can the likes of Peter Siddle, Nathan Lyon, Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell build pressure well and even contribute with wickets?

Key to an India win

The need for at least two of the top three to fire was on show at Sydney. Rohit Sharma played such a brilliant innings, and will be key again, but India need at least one of Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli to fire with Ambati Rayudu still needing to prove his consistency and MS Dhoni still dividing opinion. A strong top order performance can have doubts creep in for Australia, who haven’t won an ODI series for two years. Will India lay a strong platform for the middle order to launch?

Also, India started beautifully in Sydney, restricting Australia early. However, that they couldn’t quite drive the advantage home in the middle and death overs was cause for slight disappointment. In Adelaide, India need to have Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell in a position where they need to do a least a little rebuilding, which will not likely see Australia reach the big score they’ll be after. Bhuvneshwar Kumar will be key again at the top against Aaron Finch, and at the death, and so too Shami and Ahmed, with the spinners to play a vital wicket-taking role in the middle overs.

Possible Playing 11

Mitchell Marsh is fit again for selection after missing the first ODI. However, expect Australia to stick with the same XI that delivered victory in Sydney, despite legends unhappy with Glenn Maxwell’s batting position and Nathan Lyon not threatening a great deal in Sydney.

Australia Possible Playing 11: 1. Aaron Finch (c), 2. Alex Carey (wk), 3. Usman Khawaja, 4. Shaun Marsh, 5. Peter Handscomb, 6. Marcus Stonis, 7. Glenn Maxwell, 8. Peter Siddle, 9. Nathan Lyon, 10. Jhye Richardson, 11. Jason Behrendhorff

For India, it remains to be seen whether Dinesh Karthik is persisted with. Kedar Jadhav is waiting in the wings. Also, Khaleel Ahmed might get another chance after a disappointing outing in Sydney.

India Possible Playing 11: 1. Rohit Sharma, 2. Shikhar Dhawan, 3. Virat Kohli (c), 4. Ambati Rayudu, 5. MS Dhoni (wk), 6. Kedar Jadhav/Dinesh Karthik, 7. Ravindra Jadeja, 8. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 9. Kuldeep Yadav, 10. Mohammed Shami, 11. Khaleel Ahmed

Pitch and Conditions

Australia defended 231 against South Africa earlier this season. However, a heatwave is engulfing Adelaide, with the temperature expected to soar to nearly 40 degrees. Expect the pitch to dry out very quickly, if there is indeed any moisture.

Dream11 Prediction

• MS Dhoni outscored Alex Carey in the last game, but as Carey is opener, and the Indian top three usually goes well, Carey is a good pick.
• Aaron Finch has just two fifties in his last 25 innings across formats. He misses out.
• Shaun Marsh continued on his good form from 2018 with 54 at the SCG. He scored 416 runs at 59.42 in 2018.
• Peter Handscomb has hit 70 and 73 in his last two innings in white ball cricket. One was for the Melbourne Stars, and the second was in the first ODI. He looks to be enjoying the white ball that moves less.
• Virat Kohli has a stellar record at Adelaide Oval, especially in Tests, but has an ODI hundred on the ground, too. Rohit Sharma has six centuries in his last 16 ODI innings.
• Glenn Maxwell misses out as he might not get enough time to bat. He batted for five balls in Sydney, and bowled just two overs.
• Jason Behrendhorff and Jhye Richardson took six wickets between them at the SCG.

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Stats and Facts

• Australia lead India 4-1 in ODIs played at Adelaide.
• MS Dhoni’s 96-ball 51 was his second slowest 50+ score in ODIs.
• India have won nine of their past 10 ODI assignments. Australia haven’t won a series since beating Pakistan 4-1 in 2016.

Match Prediction

It was an excellent performance by Australia at the SCG, but can they back it up with another in Adelaide?

They are capable of doing so. However, India are even more capable of putting a much more polished performance. I expect them to do so and level the series 1-1 on the back of Virat Kohli.

Thanks for reading!

PS I recently partnered with the great team at onlinecricstore.com

• Purchase any cricket item and get a special discount with my name code: CHARBEL5
• Hope you enjoy my cricket tips on the OnlineCricStore Blog!

Australia vs India 2nd ODI Preview Dream11