Hyderabad: India will be itching to bounce back from the thrashing they received in Guwahati when they take on an edgy but resilient Australia in the series-deciding third and final T20 International here Friday.
India, who dominated Australia in the preceding ODI series, won the opening T20 comfortably before getting a rude shock in the second game. Despite the recent success India have had over Australia, Virat Kohli has maintained that the team from Down Under is always tough to beat. The Aussies will certainly go into the final game of the series with some momentum after their thumping win, Tuesday.
Australian batsman Travis Head who played a major role in that victory said here Thursday that the players are now a very confident lot. “We definitely feel that we have a chance to win the T20 series, something that was missing in the ODI series,” Head told reporters. “With the series at stake now, I am just hoping that all our batters and bowlers will come to the party. It would be fantastic if the bowlers continue in the same vein that they did in Guwahati,” he added.
India had a forgettable day at the Baraspara Stadium in all departments after they lost the all-important toss. The highly-rated batsmen were found wanting against the swinging ball with rookie Australian pacer Jason Behrendorff doing the bulk of the damage. The spinners also could not deliver when Australia batted. However, it must be said that they found it difficult to grip the ball because of the evening dew.
Despite the hammering the spinners received, it is unlikely that Kohli will make a change and bring in Axar Patel. Similar is the case in the pace department which means veteran Ashish Nehra will sit out again.
David Warner has done well in the absence of regular captain Steve Smith, making optimum use of the resources at his disposal. While Warner has led effectively, he would surely love to be back among the runs after failing in the earlier two games.
The pitch at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium is usually good for batting and fans will be expecting a run feast after the low-scoring affair on a damp pitch in Guwahati.
Rain may play spoilsport today
Hyderabad: Rain may play spoilsports in the third and final T20 international between India and Australia here with weather forecast indicating possibility of light to moderate rain, Friday. “The forecast is possibility of thunderstorm accompanied with rain today and a light to moderate rain tomorrow,” the Met office said. The city has been receiving good rainfall almost on a daily basis for about a week, throwing normal life out of gear.
Press Trust of India
