Australia vs. India: Key Players, Preview and Prediction Ahead of 2nd Test

India have history to overcome if they want to level the four-match series against Australia with victory in the second Test in Brisbane.

Australia secured an emotional 48-run win over India in the first Test in Adelaide, their first match since the funeral of Phillip Hughes.

Nathan Lyon took 12 wickets in the game and David Warner scored a century in each innings, an achievement matched by India’s Virat Kohli.

Australia have made three changes for the second Test, per ESPN Cricinfo. Captain Michael Clarke is out with a hamstring injury and has been replaced as skipper by Steve Smith, with Shaun Marsh coming into the team. Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc have come into the pace attack for Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle.

India captain MS Dhoni is fit again after missing the first Test with a fractured thumb, and he will be trying to lead his team to a first win at the Gabba, where Australia have not lost a Test since 1988.

Australia One to Watch: Steve Smith

Given the nod over Brad Haddin to be Clarke’s replacement as captain, Steve Smith will lead out Australia at a formidable venue for his first Test as skipper.

He is in good form with the bat after posting his highest Test score of 162 not out in the first innings in Adelaide. He followed that up with an unbeaten 52 in the second innings. Smith also has a 92 against India in Mohali in March 2013, per ESPN Cricinfo, on his resume.

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Smith’s only previous Test appearance in Brisbane came in November 2013 against England when he scored 31 in the first innings before being dismissed for a duck in the second.

Geoff Lemon of The Guardian feels Smith is the obvious choice as captain after the 25-year-old "made himself indispensable."

India One to Watch: Virat Kohli

Stand-in captain in the first Test due to MS Dhoni’s thumb injury, Virat Kohli’s batting was certainly not affected by the responsibility.

He scored 115 in the first innings before producing a Test best of 141 in the second innings as India tried to chase down 364 on the final day in Adelaide.

In what will be India’s first Test in Brisbane since 2003, Kohli has shown he can bat on fast pitches in Australia after scoring 44 and 75 in Perth in January 2012. His tons in Adelaide also ensured he has now scored centuries in all three series he has played against Australia, per ESPN Cricinfo.

Kohli’s performance in the first Test was praised by former Australian captain Mark Taylor, who was quoted by IBNLive saying: “He knows you have to stand up for yourself and be prepared to compete in the middle. He has done that not just with his captaincy but also with his bat.”

Prediction: Australia to win