The Australian tour has been quite tough for India so far. Despite batting brilliantly they lost the One Day International (ODI) series 4-1 but they came back strongly in the Twenty20 International (T20I) series that followed and sealed it by going two up in as many games. India won the first game at Adelaide comprehensively by 37 runs and followed that with another win at Melbourne, this time by 27 runs. With Australia having decided to rest many of their top players including Steven Smith and David Warner only a whitewash will please the wounded Indians who were outplayed in the ODIs. The venue this time is Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), where India won the final ODI last week. Ahead of another exciting game, Suvajit Mustafi lists down some potential duels. Full Cricket Scorecard: India vs Australia 2015-16, 3rd T20I at Melbourne
Rohit Sharma vs John Hastings: If Rohit Sharma was the best batsman in the ODI series, the honours for the best bowler went to Hastings. The medium pacer has bowled diligently and will look forward to stop Rohit from scoring early on. The Indian openers were pretty severe on Hastings and made him err his line in the Melbourne T20I. They will look forward to repeat the same. Rohit especially will be at his top gear, not allowing Hastings to settle down but the wily Australian won’t be that easy to tame. ALSO READ: Virat Kohli can bat at night without lights: Sunil Gavaskar
Usman Khawaja vs Jasprit Bumrah: Khawaja is going through a purple patch and after a lot of debates and speculations; the southpaw has finally made it to the national T20I side. He is expected to play in place of the injured skipper Aaron Finch. SCG is a familiar territory for Khawaja and he will look to dominate from the start. Young Jasprit Bumrah on the other hand has really impressed in his limited outings. While Khawaja will open the batting, Bumarah will share the new ball. Expect a close contest between the two as they will strive to outdo each other in order to justify their national selections. ALSO READ: India vs Australia 2015-16, 2nd T20I at Melbourne: Virat Kohli’s fifty, Yuvraj Singh and Ravindra Jadeja’s brilliance and other highlights
Virat Kohli vs Shane Watson: In absence of many of the key players, Shane Watson now has the extra responsibility to step up and make it count. The experienced all-rounder was pretty impressive with the ball at Adelaide and MCG, and will look to repeat the same. For India, without a doubt, Virat Kohli has been their best batsman. Riding on two unbeaten half-centuries, he will look forward to unsettle Watson quite early in the innings. Expect flaring tempers as these two fiery characters clash on the greens.
Glenn Maxwell vs Ravichandran Ashwin: International cricket or IPL, this is one contest which has fans on their toes. Maxwell has often hit the wily off-spinner out of the park and many a times, the latter has outfoxed the former’s improvising style. Both are unorthodox, unconventional and unpredictable in their style, and that is what makes the contest even more enticing. At MCG, Maxwell was outdone by Yuvraj Singh’s diligence and Ashwin will try no different while bowling to him. Expect plenty of mind games when Maxwell and Ashwin once again square off against each other. Like many a times in the IPL, a Maxwell vs Ashwin contest may go on to determine the game’s result.
(Suvajit Mustafi consumes cricket for lunch, fiction for dinner and munches numerous other snacks throughout the day. Yes, a jack of several trades, all Suvajit dreamt of was being India’s World Cup winning skipper but ended up being a sports writer, author, screenwriter, director, copywriter, graphic designer, sports marketer, strategist, entrepreneur, philosopher and traveller. Donning so many hats, it’s cricket which gives him the ultimate high and where he finds solace. He can be followed at @RibsGully and rivu7)
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