AUS vs IND: Predicting India's playing XI for the second T20I

India’s first T20I in Canberra never reached a finish as rain pulled the plug with India 97/1 in 9.4 overs (Suryakumar 39*, Shubman Gill 37*). That brief window, however, gave the selectors enough to stick to a clear blueprint in an aggressive top order, a mystery-spinner option and a pace spearhead in Jasprit Bumrah.

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The management is likely to back continuity unless conditions force a change. The team that started in Canberra blended three seamers with three spinners, giving emphasis to spin options in the middle overs. This balance suits Australian limited-overs surfaces, which still offer some turn and bounce at Manuka Oval.

Abhishek and Gill provide the left-/right-handed batter variety up front and a high strike-rate option in the powerplay; these are traits India used in the curtailed innings. Suryakumar’s middle-over inventiveness and leadership provide the finishing template, with Tilak and Samson adding depth and wicketkeeping flexibility. 

Shivam Dube and Axar give all-round balance if India wants extra overs from batting options. Varun and Kuldeep cover wrist and chinaman/mystery spin roles that the management clearly values in Australia’s slower patches. Jasprit Bumrah remains the spearhead of the seam attack around whom death bowling plans are built.

Harshit Rana started ahead of Arshdeep in the first game, a selection that stirred debate and was discussed among fans and critics. If the pitch on game day offers more swing or the management wants left-arm variation up front, Arshdeep is the obvious swap. Expect the toss and pitch report to be decisive here.

India’s balance is still affected by Hardik Pandya’s unavailability for the tour. The absence of his seam-all-round game forces those selection choices that lean on spinners and batting depth. Until Hardik’s return, India will likely prefer the XI above and make only match-up-driven changes.

Probable playing XI: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah.

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