IND vs AUS 2nd Test Match Prediction

IND vs AUS Team Previews

India

India dominated the first Test match from start to end but it does have a few questions to answer ahead of the second Test. Shreyas Iyer is expected to be fit for selection and we think he will walk back into the team in place of SKY. The KL Rahul question also persists and but he may get another match (at least) to put in a big performance. 

The rest of the team should remain much the same. 

Rohit Sharma was the standout batter for India in the first Test with support from the middle and lower order. KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara (playing his 100th Test), and Virat Kohli all failed to perform. This is why adding Shreyas Iyer, India's best player of spin right now, is a big boost for the Indian team. 

Srikar Bharat, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel form one of the most formidable lower-order batting lineups in the world right now, at least in home conditions. They allow India to get the extra 50-100 runs without compromising its bowling. 

All three spinners will play a central role in this match on a pitch that is once again expected to spin sharply. Mohammad Shami and Mohammad Siraj were excellent with the new ball and ensure there is no respite for the opposition batters at any time. 

Everything seems to be in India's favor right now.

Australia

Australia made a couple of selection blunders in its previous match and also did not execute its plans properly. We think Travis Head is going to walk back into the team because Matthew Renshaw may have a slight injury niggle. Also, Mitchell Starc should be available for selection and could replace Scott Boland. 

Australia went with just four bowlers in the previous match and that was a mistake. If they genuinely want to win then they need to play with five bowlers. Cameron Green being available for selection could help solve that problem but then one out of Travis Head, David Warner, or Peter Handscomb will miss out. 

Changing the team around so frequently will affect the morale of the lineup and put pressure on all of the players that are playing. Having so many left-handers in the lineup is a big problem for Australia and they will continue to remain very susceptible to the Indian spinners, all of whom are brilliant against lefties. 

That leaves Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne to score the bulk of the runs. They both showed promise but may need to come up with their absolute best to be able to make a major mark against the Indian spinners. 

Australia's bowlers did quite well in the previous Test. Todd Murphy started with seven wickets, Nathan Lyon bowled well without reward, and Scott Boland was very accurate. Pat Cummins is also too good a bowler to miss out for too long. 

The problem for Australia has been getting the right balance. It is up against a superior opponent in home conditions and that is why something truly extraordinary needs to happen for it to win.