Australia vs India 2020-21, 2nd T20I, Sydney: India Predicted XI

After having scripted a thrilling 11-run-win in the opening game of the three-match T20I series, Team India will now look to seal the series and notch up their 10th consecutive win in the shortest format of the game when they lock horns with Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday.

Unlike in ODI cricket, India boasts of a good record in T20Is at the SCG. They have won each of their two fixtures at the iconic venue and will be hoping to make it three in a row on Sunday.

With Ravindra Jadeja ruled out of the series due to injury, it will be interesting to see the make-up of the Indian playing 11,

Here’s a look at India’s predicted XI for the 2nd T20I:

Shikhar Dhawan

Shikhar Dhawan had a forgettable outing in the last game.

After scrapping to a 6-ball 1, the southpaw was knocked over by a full fast delivery by Mitchell Starc.

Dhawan scored a rapid 22-ball 41 during his last outing in a T20I at the SCG (in 2018). The southpaw would be looking to repeat the same on Sunday.

KL Rahul [WK]

KL Rahul had a quiet start to his innings in the last game before he shifted gears brilliantly to stroke a 37-ball half-century.

But just as it looked like, India’s highest T20I run-scorer since August 2019, was warming up for a late onslaught, consistent wickets at the other end led to his eventual demise on a 40-ball 51.

Virat Kohli [C]

Law of averages finally caught up with Virat Kohli as far as his performances in T20I cricket on Australian soil are concerned as he once again fell to a leg-spinner (Mitchell Swepson) for a scratchy nine-ball 9.

Kohli has registered scores of 50 and an unbeaten 41-ball 61 in his previous two outings at the SCG. Both of those matches ended in a win for Team India. The Indian captain will hope to emulate the same as the visitor’s eye yet another T20I series win.

Sanju Samson

Sanju Samson looked in pristine touch during his 15-ball 23 in the first match.

But, as has been the case with the talented Kerala swashbuckler, he once again failed to convert his start into a knock of substance, something that he’ll desperately hope to do at the SCG.

Manish Pandey

Manish Pandey endured a rather tough outing in the last game.

Pandey, who warmed the bench throughout the ODI series, looked a bit rusty as he scrapped his way to a 7-ball 2 before getting dismissed by Adam Zampa on the 8th delivery.

The Karnataka batsman will hope to shrug off his struggles in the first game when he takes center stage in Sydney.

Hardik Pandya

With Ravindra Jadeja ruled out of the T20I series, the onus will now be on Hardik Pandya to spearhead the lower middle-order and provide the Indian team the impetus in the slog overs.

Pandya stroked a 15-ball 16 in the last game before he perished for the cause.

Washington Sundar

In the absence of Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar is set to move up one place in the batting order.

Sundar was brilliant with the ball in the last game as he once again stifled the opposition batsmen in the powerplay and the middle overs. The off-spinner gave away just 16 runs in his four-over spell during which he bowled a total of 13 dot balls.

Sundar will once again be the key with the ball but his batting will be equally significant given the fact that India no longer has Ravindra Jadeja in their playing 11.

Deepak Chahar

Deepak Chahar started off on a poor note as he failed to control the swing, giving 14 runs in his first over.

But he came brilliantly in his second and third spell and ended up with respectable figures of 1-29 in four overs, which includes a prized scalp of Moises Henriques.

Chahar could have ended up with three wickets but for the dropped catches by Manish Pandey and Virat Kohli of Aaron Finch and D’Arcy Short of successive deliveries in his second over.

Yuzvendra Chahal

Yuzvendra Chahal picked up a ‘Player of the Match’ award in the last game despite not featuring in the original playing 11.

Chahal only came in as a ‘concussion substitute for Ravindra Jadeja and his match-winning three-wicket haul which included prized scalps of Aaron Finch, Steve Smith, and Matthew Wade, proved just why India shouldn’t have dropped him from the playing 11 in the first place.

T Natarajan

T Natarajan continued to impress with his bag of skills and ice-cool temperament in his second International outing for India.

The left-armer dealt Australia with a body blow when he trapped Glenn Maxwell plum in the front with a length delivery before dismissing D’Archy Short and Mitchell Starc- the latter with a pinpoint yorker.

Natarajan finished with figures of 3/30 in four overs and he will once again be the key for India in Sydney.

Jasprit Bumrah

In line with India’s ploy of rotating its premier fast bowlers in Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah, the latter should slot into the playing 11 for the all-important second game at the SCG.

Shami had an off-day in the first game as he came in for real hammering, conceding 46 runs in four overs. Bumrah, on the other hand, found his rhythm in the last One-day International and it will be quite a sight to see him and Natarajan- the two yorker specialists- bowl in the death overs.

Also Read- Australia vs India 2020-21, 2nd T20I, Sydney: Australia Predicted XI