Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
India and Australia are set to clash in the 2nd T20 International, today at the Greenfields International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The match will start at 7:00 pm IST.
India secured a thrilling two-wicket victory in the first T20I, with Suryakumar Yadav's impressive 80 and crucial innings of Ishan Kishan and Rinku Singh. Australia scored a total of 208 runs, but India chased it down with just 1 ball to spare. Currently, India is leading the 5-match T20 series by 1-0.
Known for its bowler-friendly conditions, the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram has historically favoured bowlers over batsmen. Last year's T20I between South Africa and India at this venue highlighted its bowler-centric nature. Let's take a look at some of the key players who might influence today's match.
The 24-year-old left-arm medium-fast pacer, Arshdeep Singh, with 54 wickets in 37 T20Is, will spearhead India's bowling attack. Despite being costly in the first T20, the bowler-friendly pitch may allow him to showcase his swing skills.
Axar Patel, one of the two bowlers who took a wicket in the 1st T20 for India, demonstrated marginal economy. Not just a potent bowler, Patel can also make valuable contributions with the bat in the middle order.
Rinku Singh played a pivotal role in India's narrow victory in the 1st T20 by scoring 22 off 14 balls, exhibiting reliability in the middle order. His composed innings under pressure makes him a player to watch in crucial situations.
The 21-year-old leg-spinner, Tanveer Sangha, has already made a mark, taking 7 wickets in just 3 T20Is, including a standout performance in the first T20. This leg spinner could be a real trouble for Indian batsman again, if the pitch turns out to be in favour of spinner more than seamers.
The left-arm fast-medium bowler might have taken just one wicket against India in the first T20I, but had the best bowling figures otherwise. In 4 overs, he gave 25 runs with an economy of 6.25. He also gave a maidan over, slowing the Indian batsmen while chasing a total of 208. On a pitch favouring bowlers, he could prove crucial for the Australian side in stopping Indian side from scoring or chasing big totals.
In a form of his life, Josh Inglis scored a century against India in the first T20I match of the series. He scored 110 off 50 balls before losing his wicket to Prasidh Krishna. Josh Inglis is known for outperforming on dying and bowler-centric pitches. Taking Inglis’s wicket early on could a be crucial goal for the Indian bowling attack.