India is geared up for a fierce showdown in the 2nd T20I of the 2023 five-match T20I Series against Australia, scheduled for Sunday, November 26, at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. The evening clash, starting at 7:00 PM IST, has caught the excitement of cricket aficionados as India leads the series after a nail-biter of an opener.
The Men in Blue rebounded from the World Cup final’s disappointment by securing a thrilling victory against the Aussies and taking a 1-0 lead. Suryakumar Yadav, alongside his teammates, aims to widen the gap against the visitors. Despite Australia’s formidable tally of over 200 runs in the opener, they fell short, thus leaving the doors wide open for an intense battle to level the series this weekend.
Pitch and weather reports suggest specific strategies as the average first innings score at Thiruvananthapuram’s venue stands at 148, over the last 10 matches. Historical data hints that chasing should be the favoured tactic, given the 67 percent win rate for teams batting second. As for the weather, a comfortable 29 degrees Celsius environment looks to accompany a humidity level hovering around 65 percent, the ideal setting for a night of competitive cricket.
Delving into the Fantasy XI predictions, India’s Suryakumar Yadav remains a top pick, having scored 80 runs with an impressive average of 80 and a strike rate close to 190.48 in just one match. His half-century instills further confidence in his selection. For Australia, Josh Inglis stands out as the leading run-scorer, boasting 110 runs at a stupendous strike rate of 220.
Indian bowler Prasidh Krishna has showcased his talent, having claimed one wicket so far, best figures being 1/50. Australian counterpart Tanveer Sangha has managed to take two wickets, with best bowling figures showing 2/47.
The Fantasy XI lineup integrates wicket-keepers Josh Inglis and Ishan Kishan; batters Suryakumar Yadav, Steve Smith, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Rinku Singh; all-rounders Marcus Stoinis and Matthew Short; and bowlers Prasidh Krishna, Ravi Bishnoi, and Tanveer Sangha. Appointing Suryakumar Yadav as captain and Josh Inglis as vice-captain could be a tactical move in this fantasy scenario.
The historical head-to-head record of India vs Australia in T20Is stands at 27 competitions with India winning 16 and Australia securing 10 victories, while one ended without a result. Trends from the last five T20I matches favor India, with three wins over Australia’s two. The highest and lowest scores of these encounters were 211 and 90, made by Australia, reflecting the unpredictability and excitement of these thrilling matchups.
As preparations mount and the crowd anticipates another memorable match, India is tipped as the favorite to win this contest, in hopes of extending their lead. Fans around the world can stay updated on the latest World Cup 2023 news, schedules, and more, following sports updates on social media platforms or by downloading dedicated cricket apps for their devices. The stage is set for what could be another chapter in the riveting cricketing rivalry between India and Australia.