India vs Australia, 2nd T20I: India's Predicted Playing XI

Australia stole a win in the last over after almost botching up the chase in the series opener in Vizag. India made a resounding comeback from a nothing position and would’ve been the happier side of the two thanks to a terrific performance from the bowlers. Though a win for Australia was well deserved as they were the better team and have taken a decisive lead in the two-match series.

India will now be eager to level the series at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Wednesday and as Virat Kohli said ahead of the series opener, some eyebrow-raising selections will be made during this series. Accordingly, Shikhar Dhawan was rested in the first T20I and Mayank Markande was handed over an international debut who also performed decently when put under the pump.

Here we bring you India’s predicted XI for the second and final T20I:

Openers (Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul)

India are set to give game time to KL Rahul who slammed a half-century in the first match of the series. He scored a quick-fire fifty but his wicket led to a collapse and Rahul will be aiming to be consistent and most importantly play right through if he gets settled in the middle. A good outing in Bengaluru might more or less confirm KL Rahul’s World Cup ticket.

Rohit Sharma is likely to be rested for this must-win encounter. He has played almost every limited-overs game for India for a long time and was a part of India’s Test side as well. Shikhar Dhawan will replace him at the top of the order and the explosive batsman also hasn’t scored big in the last few matches. Dhawan will be eyeing a perfect outing if he gets an opportunity in this do or die game for India.

Middle-Order (Virat Kohli (c), Rishabh Pant, MS Dhoni (wk))

Virat Kohli will be definitely playing this game and bat at his usual number three. He looked in amazing touch and felt that he just continued from where he left in New Zealand. Though the skipper would be gutted to not make his start count as he mishit a delivery from Adam Zampa after crossing the 20-run mark.

Rishabh Pant will continue to play as, like KL Rahul, the left-hander also needs game time to stake a claim for his place at the mega event in England. He blew away a chance in Vizag and was run-out which was claimed ‘irresponsible’ by many. Pant’s chances are running out fast and he will need a big score in this match.

MS Dhoni’s knock was also criticised a lot. But the veteran had no option but to farm more strike with no proper batsman at the other end. His efforts helped India post a fighting total of 126 runs on the board. Though it couldn’t be denied that he struggled to middle the ball and a blistering innings is needed from him in Bengaluru where he was the Man of the Match last year in the IPL.

All-Rounders (Vijay Shankar, Krunal Pandya)

Vijay Shankar might play this game in place of Dinesh Karthik. While it will be hard on the latter to drop only after a solitary failure, the Men in Blue will need an extra bowler up their sleeves. With Pant needing more game time, Karthik seems to be the only casualty in this case. Shankar will bat at number six and his bowling can also be tested keeping the World Cup in mind.

Krunal Pandya did a fine job with the ball as he has been doing in the shortest format after making a debut last year. Having said that, the left-hander was expected to do well with the willow the other day. With MS Dhoni, he had a chance to resurrect the Indian innings with a lot of overs in hand. However, a false shot led to his undoing and an improved show is expected of him.

Bowlers (Siddarth Kaul, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mayank Markande)

Jasprit Bumrah undoubtedly will play. His exceptional penultimate over in the first match had turned the game in India’s favour decisively. His figures of 3/16 suggest that the pace bowler is fresh after a rest and will be raring to go again on Wednesday in Bengaluru. He will be assisted by Siddarth Kaul who will replace Umesh Yadav. Kaul didn’t get a game even in New Zealand series and deserves a chance at the expense of Yadav who wasn’t up to the mark a couple of days ago.

Yuzvendra Chahal bowled really well and was responsible for the Australian collapse. He scalped Glenn Maxwell’s wicket after which the visitors were reduced to 113/7 from 89/2. In the absence of Kuldeep Yadav, Chahal continues to be the key bowler for India. Mayank Markande was also decent with his exploits in his first ever international game. Though the youngster went for runs early on, when put under the pump in the 18th over of the chase, he showed nerves of steel and conceded only five runs.

He will surely get one more chance given the fact that he is not the part of the ODI squad which will play five matches where Kuldeep Yadav returns.

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