India will look to wrap up the one-day worldwide collection in opposition to Australia when the 2 sides meet right here on the Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium for the second ODI on Sunday.
In the collection opener in Mumbai, the hosts fought again after shedding the early momentum in each phases of the match to put up a five-wicket win and go forward 1-0 within the three-match collection.
Regular skipper Rohit Sharma will take over the captaincy duties from Hardik Pandya after lacking the primary recreation for private causes. His return will bolster the highest order, which struggled in opposition to Mitchell Starc’s fiery spell on Friday. Ishan Kishan is prone to make method for Rohit.
The ongoing collection is an important a part of the preparations for the World Cup later this 12 months in India, and the Men in Blue can take coronary heart from the very fact there have been some shiny spots after the primary match.
In Jasprit Bumrah’s absence, pacers Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj rose to the event with three wickets every. Notably, 5 of the six had been in the course of the center overs, which triggered an Aussie collapse.
With the bat, Okay.L. Rahul guided India to victory with a masterfully crafted unbeaten 75 when the aspect was in bother at 16 for 3. The Karnataka batter holds the important thing for the staff’s possibilities within the quadrennial occasion as a wicketkeeper batter within the middle-order.
Rahul’s type was an space of concern after he misplaced his place within the Test squad for the final two matches of the not too long ago concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy in opposition to the Aussies. But in ODIs, the 30-year-old has been one among India’s most constant performers during the last three years.
Since 2020, Rahul has been averaging 63 from 19 innings, hanging at practically run-a-ball whereas batting within the center order and has owned the quantity 5 place within the line-up.
While the Wankhede pitch assisted the quicks, Vizag has historically been a high-scoring venue with some assist for spinners. There can be the potential for showers on match day, with the town additionally receiving a spell of rain on Saturday night.
In the final worldwide recreation right here, Yuzvendra Chahal spun the house staff to victory in opposition to South Africa in a T20 match. So will probably be fascinating to see if the leg-spinner will get a look-in in opposition to a batting line-up with many right-handers forward of Kuldeep Yadav, who got here underneath assault from Mitchell Marsh in Mumbai.
Meanwhile, Australia will look to place up a greater present with the bat after shedding the final eight wickets for simply 59 runs within the opening fixture. If David Warner and Alex Carey are match to take the sector, it ought to assist issues for the guests. But the larger fear is skipper Steve Smith’s type, as he has but to attain a half-century on this tour.
In the final seven years, India’s solely ODI collection defeat in its yard got here in opposition to Australia earlier than the 2019 World Cup (3-2). The staff from Down Under might want to produce a extra disciplined effort on Sunday if it hopes to repeat that feat.
– S Dipak Ragav
Source: sportstar.thehindu.com