After the thrilling first T20I of the three-match T20I series at Brisbane on this Wednesday (November 21), the hosts Australia and the visitors India are ready to face each other in the second T20I on Friday (November 23) at Melbourne Cricket Ground (Melbourne).

Australia won the first T20I by four runs in the DLS method and has taken the 1-0 lead in this three-match series with two more matches to go.

Australian cricket team

As the Australian team is currently struggling in the international cricket, the Brisbane T20I victory will surely give them a massive confidence. However, they have now to focus on the second T20I without wasting their crucial times.

The opener D’Arcy Short hasn’t impressed much with his recent batting performances as his struggle has remained continues till the date. Australia has the powerful batting line-up for the T20I cricket and it worked out pretty well in the Brisbane T20I too. However, the top-order batsmen need to play long innings and not to lose their wickets in the crucial periods.

The leg-spinner Adam Zampa and the pace bowling all-rounder Marcus Stoinis bowled very well in the Brisbane T20I which has proved more strength in their bowling line-up. However, the Aussie bowlers need to improve their death over bowling.

Australia will secure this T20I series if they won the Melbourne game. The players are focusing on it as this series victory will give them a massive confidence in international cricket, where they are currently struggling.

Form guide (last five T20Is; starting with most recent): Won, Lost, Lost, Lost and Lost

Indian cricket team

In the Brisbane T20I, Indian cricket team mostly suffered for some inexperienced cricketers. While the in-form and better-experienced bowlers delivered very well in that game, the inexperienced international level bowlers disappointed hugely.

There was also some sloppy fielding as the Indian fielders dropped two catches and missed one run-out at crucial times.

Talking about the batting, the in-form Indian top-order batsmen mostly disappointed, except the opener Shikhar Dhawan. Dinesh Karthik and Rishabh Pant showed India’s middle-order strength, though Pant needs to be more mature with the bat.

At present, the in-form Indian cricket team is slightly under pressure as they can’t lose any matches in this T20I series.

Form guide (last five T20Is; starting with most recent): Lost, Won, Won, Won and Won

Also read: Predicted XI of Team India for the Melbourne T20I

Full squads

Australia: Aaron Finch (capt), Alex Carey (vc/wk), Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Chris Lynn, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa

India: Virat Kohli (capt), Rohit Sharma (vc), Khaleel Ahmed, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal, Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Manish Pandey, Krunal Pandya, Rishabh Pant (wk), KL Rahul, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Umesh Yadav

Key Stats Preview:

• Playing 11 T20I matches at Melbourne Cricket Ground (Melbourne), Australia won seven matches and lost four matches.
• However, India and Australia have played three T20Is at Melbourne Cricket Ground (Melbourne). In result, India has won twice and Australia has won only once.
• India has played their lowest completed T20I innings at Melbourne Cricket Ground (Melbourne) – 74 (17.3 overs) against Australia on February 1, 2008.
• Australian pacer Andrew Tye (13 T20I wickets at home) is four wickets away to become the most wicket-taking Australian bowler in the home T20I career. Currently, he is the joint second highest wicket-taking bowler in this list (Shaun Tait also has 13 T20I wickets at home). James Faulkner is leading in this list with 16 T20I wickets.
• Australian pacer Andrew Tye (36 T20I wickets) is one wicket away to become the third most T20I wicket-taker for Australia. In addition, two more T20I wickets will make him the second most T20I wicket-taker for Australia.
• Indian opening batsman Rohit Sharma (2,214 T20I runs) needs to score 58 more runs to become the leading run-scorer in the T20I history. New Zealand batsman Martin Guptill is on the top position at present with 2,271 T20I runs.