XtraTime Web Desk: India look to level the T20I series as Virat Kohli’s men seem determined to learn from their mistakes from the previous game. At Brisbane, the ‘Men in Blue’ were found slacking in the field and it proved to be the ultimate difference in a see-sawing game.
Stung by a narrow loss in the opening encounter, India will like to reassess their playing combination while aiming for a swift turn-around when they take on Australia in the second T20I in Melbourne on Friday.
The hosts took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, which comprise three back-to-back matches in a short span of five days.
Having won seven consecutive bilateral T20 series, Kohli and his men will certainly want to make it eight in a row and for that they may be forced to rejig both their batting and bowling combinations.
Bidding for an eighth victory on the bounce now doesn’t seem as straightforward a proposition as it looked earlier with the hosts ready to come all guns blazing after their all-round show in the first game.
The Indian batting line-up could see some rejigging in light of KL Rahul’s patchy form. Since scoring 101 not out in the first T20I against England at Manchester, Rahul hasn’t been able to cross the 30-run mark in next six matches.
The team management has persisted with him at number three, benched Manish Pandey and the skipper demoting himself to number four.
Consistency is need of the hour from Rahul, especially considering that he is also set to be a part of India’s top-order in the ensuing Test series.
The team management could also be tempted to have a re-look at the bowling attack.