Australia vs India 2nd T20I: Team news, probable XI, pitch report, weather forecast and where to watch

Rain played spoilsport in the opening game of the five-match T20I series between Australia and India. It's not often that Canberra sees a washout but the rain was relentless, forcing an anti-climax after Shubman Gill and Suryakumar Yadav had set the platform for a huge total. Nevertheless, the action now shifts to Melbourne for the second T20I with both sides eager to snatch the lead.

TEAM NEWS

Australia

Barely half the overs of the first innings were possible at the Manuka Oval, meaning that the home side should be going with an unchanged side for this game. This will also be Josh Hazlewood's last competitive game before the Ashes, given that he has been rested for the remainder of the series.

The Aussies will also be without leg spinner Adam Zampa as he and his wife are expecting their second child. That means more opportunities for Matthew Kuhnemann with young leggie Tanveer Sangha also added to the squad for this game. The only question is whether Josh Philippe gets another game or if Matt Short will be back.

India

In the short passage of play, India's top-order showed their explosive skillset once again with Gill and Suryakumar going bonkers. Abhishek Sharma did fall cheaply but it was a quickfire innings from the left-hander as well. India too are unlikely to make any changes to the XI that played in the first T20I.

Nitish Reddy continues to be unavailable and India will once again opt for Axar Patel at 7 with Harshit Rana to bat at eight. The track record for Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy, both individually and as a pair, is too good to ignore and that would mean that Washington Sundar sits out again.

 

PROBABLE XI

Australia: Mitchell Marsh(c), Travis Head, Josh Inglis(wk), Tim David, Josh Philippe, Mitchell Owen, Marcus Stoinis, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Josh Hazlewood

India: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson(wk), Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy

PITCH REPORT

Pitches at the MCG are generally not flat and usually have something in it for the bowlers. The massive square dimensions are also a big plus for the bowlers, especially pacers who look to bowl the hard length. Average score batting first in T20Is at the ground is 141 and teams chasing have won 11 of the 19 games, including four of the last five. The last T20I played at this venue between the two sides was in 2016 when India scored 184 batting first.

WEATHER FORECAST

Rain is inevitable in Melbourne even with the best forecast and match day also has 45 percent chances of rain. However, another no-result seems unlikely but it is set to be a game with possible rain interruptions.

 

WHERE TO WATCH?

The Australia-India T20Is are being telecast on the Star Sports Network while the streaming rights are with JioHotstar.