After a comprehensive win in the first T20I of the series, India will once again challenge Australia at DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai on January 7. Titas Sadhu was spectacular with the ball in the last match while Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma did the job with the bat, helping the team win by nine wickets.
Australia, on the other hand, will have to improve. Skipper Alyssa Healy is going through a tough phase while Pheobe Litchfield and Ellyse Perry are the only players who seem to be in form with the bat. That needs to change in the second T20I for Australia to be successful. Bowlers too looked pale in the opening T20I of the match, as Georgia Wareham was the only bowler to pick up a wicket.
They have all the quality that’s required and can bounce back in the second T20I. Tahlia McGrath and Ashleigh Gardner will be key with the bat, as the batting unit flopped in the last match. The focus will once again be on Litchfield, who’s going through a purple patch.
The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side will be confident after their recent success. Openers looked to give them the perfect start while bowlers were on song. Sadhu picked up four, while Shreyanka Patil and Deepti Sharma picked up two wickets each. Overall, an enthralling game is awaited, especially with India aiming to win the series, after failing to bag the ODI trophy.
Probable Playing XI of India and Australia:
India Women:
Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), Amanjot Kaur, Pooja Vastrakar, Shreyanka Patil, Renuka Thakur Singh, Titas Sadhu
Australia Women:
Alyssa Healy (wk/c), Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner, Phoebe Litchfield, Grace Harris, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown