Nagpur: Hoping to wash away the memories of the last clash where they failed to defend a 200+ score. Toss in Nagpur has been delayed due to a wet outfield. The Rohit Sharma-led hosts had a torrid time in Mohali, where their bowling attack was ripped to shreds by Cameron Green and Matthew Wade. Except for Axar Patel, all the other bowlers had a rather rough night against a depleted Australian outfit.
With Jasprit Bumrah declared fit, expect changes in the Indian team tonight. The visitors, however, are likely to keep things as it is and will hope for more of the same. Nathan Ellis has been one of their finds in recent times and he will probably be leading the attack for Australia in the bowling department.
India won the toss and opted to bowl as Matthew Wade smacked an unbeaten 20-ball 43 to fire Australia to a challenging 90 for five against India in the rain-hit second T20 International here.
Wade hit four boundaries and three towering sixes — all in the final over off Harshal Patel (0/32) — while skipper Aaron Finch hit 31 off 15 after wet outfield due to overnight rain reduced the match to an 8 overs-a-side contest.
Australia looked to put up a show for the capacity crowd at the VCA stadium but Axar Patel (2/13 in 2 overs) snapped two wickets in an impressive spell to leave them at 31 for 3.
Meanwhile, India were in hot pursuit and made it very clear what they meant as openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul slammed three sixes in the very first over. Meanwhile, Adam Zampa managed to remove Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav in the same over, and suddenly the hosts were staring down the barrel when Hardik Pandya was dismissed by Pat Cummins. But finisher Dinesh Karthik kept his calm and hit a six and four to finish things off for India which meant they had leveled the 3-match series 1-1 with skipper Rohit Sharma leading from the front with 46 off 20 balls.
