Xtra Time Web Desk: With the series at stake, the Indian team management is likely to bring back Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the playing XI for the third and final T20I against Australia in Hyderabad on Sunday. The experienced bowler who went for plenty in the first T20I at Mohali, is likely to return in order to bolster the bowling department.
India opted for Rishabh Pant in the rain curtailed second T20I at Nagpur. But with the weather forecast good for a full 20 overs a side match, India will need an extra bowling option. Deepak Chahar has been bowling overtime at the nets and also on match days. Chahar was seen having a long discussion with mental conditioning coach Paddy Upton ahead of the start of 2nd T20I. If he is 100 percent fit, then he can also be an option for the team management.
Whoever plays – Bhuvneshwar or Deepak, he will provide Rohit Sharma with a sixth bowling option.
The return of Jasprit Bumrah after the break was a big positive for the hosts. Bumrah bowled a perfect yorker to Australian captain Aaron Finch in the second T20I, which proved he is getting his mojo back. But India will need the other bowlers viz. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal and Harshal Patel to step up if they are to do well in crunch situations.
Harshal, in particular, hasn’t had perfect return to competitive action from an injury, conceding 49 runs in Mohali and then 32 runs from just two overs in Nagpur. Thankfully for India, Axar Patel has brought respite amid all the head scratching.
If India does opt to play an extra bowler then Rishabh Pant has to sit out. Dinesh Karthik proved he is the best bet as far as finisher is concerned.
Here is the probable XI for India: Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Axar Patel, Harshal Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah and Yuzvendra Chahal