Australia will have an uphill task in stopping the Indian onslaught in the three-match T20 series. As the format is shorter, the difference between the two sides will reduce to some extent but the major difference — that of quality — will once again make life difficult for the Aussies. Until they find a way to play spin properly, India will dominate even in this format of the game.
I am very happy to see that Ashish Nehra is back in the Indian side. He, along with Bumrah, is one of India’s best Twenty20 bowlers. Being a left-hander he creates a different angle for the batters.
The Indian spinners will once again continue to be a threat to the Australians. For them the key is to learn very, very quickly, which to my surprise, the young players have not been able to manage. For me, more than anything else their shot selection has been very ordinary, mostly has been against spin and other than VVS Laxman I have not seen anyone hitting against spin and being successful for a long period of time.
What I fail to understand is that how one cricketer keeps playing in similar conditions and keeps on making the same mistakes over and over again. The likes of Travis Head and Glenn Maxwell will have to stand up and do something different for Australia to put pressure back on India. The only player to improve has been Marcus Stoinis and hopefully the others will learn from him.
Australia will be without Pat Cummins, their best fast bowler in the ODI series, who has been surprisingly sent back for the Ashes, a series which is due to start in 50 days’ time! This particular move makes me wonder if Australia have given up trying here in subcontinent conditions. They have lost 14 of the last 15 games in the last one and half years and the pressure on Steve Smith will be huge.
India are on a roll and once again will start as favourites, irrespective of who has been rested and who they have picked.
— Gameplan
