Australia vs. India, 2nd T20i: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview
Australia must win the second Twenty20 against India in Melbourne on Friday to keep the three-match series alive.
After the tourists triumphed by 37 runs in the opener in Adelaide on Tuesday, the teams quickly move on to the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
India triumphed by eight wickets the last time they played a T20 at the famous venue, back in 2012.
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However, three members of their squad—Rohit Sharma, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh—were part of the India XI bowled out for 75 in a nine-wicket loss at the MCG in 2008.
Date: Friday, Jan. 29, 2016
Time: 7:38 p.m. local (8:38 a.m. GMT)
Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
Live Stream and TV Info: Channel Nine (Australia), Sky Sport (New Zealand), Super Sport (South Africa), Star Sports (India), Sky Sports (UK), Sky Go (UK—subscription required)
Weather: According to AccuWeather.com, rain could be a pain in Melbourne. The forecast suggests showers early in the evening, with temperatures predicted to be a rather chilly 11 degrees Celsius.
Overview
India failed to read the script for the first T20. On Australia Day, they ruined the party with an impressive victory in front of a crowd of 44,745, according to the Adelaide Oval's Twitter feed.
Virat Kohli's unbeaten 90, made from just 55 deliveries, underpinned the visiting side's total of 188 for three.
Australia looked to be on course for victory at 89 for one in reply, but the dismissals of Steve Smith and Aaron Finch in the space of three balls sunk their hopes. They were bowled out for 151.
Jasprit Bumrah's figures of three for 23 were impressive for India, but the spin pairing of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja were the bowlers responsible for choking the life out of Australia's run chase.
The duo gave up just 49 runs in their combined eight overs while also picking up two wickets apiece.
Hardik Pandya weighed in with two wickets on debut, although the all-rounder's early taste of international cricket didn't quite go to plan. His opening over went for 19 runs and lasted 11 deliveries due to five wides.
Still, Pandya's inclusion adds extra depth to India's bowling resources. Captain Dhoni revealed in his post-match interview that he wants as many options with the ball as possible, per ESPN Cricinfo:
"What I don't want is top five or top six batters, including the keeper, where you don't have a bowling option. If somebody goes for runs, you don't really know what to do. In this format, you will have bowlers going for runs. At that time, you want your part-time all-rounders to come in and give you that one over because that one over can help.
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As for Australia, they are caught between a rock and a hard place. Well, perhaps it is more like short-term pain for long-term gain.
A series defeat on home soil would be disappointing, yet they have to also think about the bigger picture.
The ICC World Twenty20 looms large on the horizon, but Australia still have tours to New Zealand and South Africa before the tournament in March. The busy calendar—coming straight off the back of a long summer schedule on home turf—means players need to be taken care of.
Per the Australian Associated Press (h/t the Guardian), Smith and opener David Warner will miss the final two T20 fixtures against India so they can prepare for the upcoming one-day series in New Zealand.
Still, their absences will offer opportunities to others in the T20 squad.
After batting at six in Adelaide, all-rounder Shane Watson may receive a promotion up the order. However, if the hosts want a right-left opening combination, Shaun Marsh is the option to partner skipper Finch.
Glenn Maxwell, who was missing for the series opener due to a hamstring injury, has confirmed via his Twitter account he will join up with the rest of his team-mates for the match in Melbourne.
No matter who they pick, Australia's aim will be to draw level and set up a decider in Sydney on Jan. 31.
Key Players
Australia
Maxwell's return would be a double boost for the home team. Not only does he add power to the batting lineup, he also provides an extra dimension to the bowling attack with his off-spin.
Playing on home turf, the Victorian will hope to improve on his T20 batting statistics for Australia. He averages 20.36 and has made just one half-century in 21 trips to the middle.
India
Kohli has scored 519 runs in his last 10 knocks in T20 cricket for India, per statistician Shiva Jayaraman of ESPN Cricinfo. His 90 not out in Adelaide is also a new career best in the format.
A trip to the MCG should bring back happy memories for the right-hander, too. He made 117 during the third ODI against Australia on Jan. 17, although his efforts were in a losing cause in that game.
Squads
Australia
Aaron Finch (capt), Scott Boland, Cameron Boyce, James Faulkner, John Hastings, Travis Head, Nathan Lyon, Chris Lynn, Glenn Maxwell, Shaun Marsh, Kane Richardson, Shaun Tait, Andrew Tye, Matthew Wade (wkt), Shane Watson
India
MS Dhoni (capt & wkt), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Harbhajan Singh, Umesh Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Rishi Dhawan, Ashish Nehra
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