Australia vs India, 2nd T20I, India tour of Australia, 2025

India’s aim for a lead after heroics in the rain-curtailed 1st game  

Our Predictions 

• The odds of the first boundary being a four are 1.18 
• The odds of the first boundary being a six are 3.73 
• The first dismissal being caught out is 1.43 
• The first dismissal being not caught is 2.70 

MATCH PREVIEW     

It was a shame to see the 1st T20I of the five-match series abandoned midway due to rain. It was a lucky escape for the Australians as the Indians had put themselves in a strong position in the game. The Australians have struggled with the ball in the last 12 months. They will need to find answers for their bowling woes in this game to win. The Indians stamped their authority with the bat in the last game. The World T20 champions have odds on their side due to consistent performances in the last two years. The Australians are a tough team to beat in these conditions, and we expect a close contest.  

Australia Preview      

Mitchell Marsh and his team would consider themselves lucky. The team failed to use the conditions well in Canberra and allowed the Indian batters to do damage till the rain stopped play. They are up against a formidable batting lineup and shall start this game behind on cricket betting sites. The team expects a strong comeback from the bowling attack to put pressure on the Indians.  

Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head are good stroke players, and the team expects an electrifying start from them. Josh Philippe, Josh Inglis, and Tim will look to do well in the middle order and put pressure back on the Indians. Marcus Stoinis and Mitchell Owen are good hitters and add firepower to this batting lineup.  

Josh Hazlewood and Xavier Bartlett struggled with the new ball in the last game, and the team expects early breakthroughs from them. Nathan Ellis had a tough time in the middle and must bowl better lines alongside Marcus Stoinis. Matthew Kuhnemann and Travis Head must do well in the supporting roles, as the Indians will come hard on them.   

Expected Starting XI for Australia     

Mitchell Marsh (c), Travis Head, Tim David, Josh Inglis (wk), Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Owen, Josh Philippe, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Josh Hazlewood  

India Preview     

Suryakumar Yadav will be upset with the last game’s outcome, where poor weather denied them a win. The team has been in phenomenal form over the last 12 months, with the batting lineup dominating the bowlers. The team will start ahead in cricket betting apps, and Kumar would look to lead from the front and give his team a head start.  

Abhishek Sharma got a start in the last game, and he will look to lay a strong platform in the game with Shubman Gill. Suryakumar Yadav’s return to form is good news for the team, and he will look to add runs with Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma in the middle order. Shivam Dube and Axar Patel are good finishers, and the team expects them to do well in the lower middle order.  

Jasprit Bumrah adds an X-factor to the attack, and he will look to strike early in the game with Harshit Rana. Kuldeep Yadav will look to trouble the batters in the middle with Varun Chakaravarthy. Axar Patel and Shivam Dube add depth to the attack, and the team expects the pair to deliver a strong show in the supporting role.  

Expected Starting XI for India     

Suryakumar Yadav (c), Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Harshit Rana, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav  

TOSS: To Bowl First      

The wicket at the MCG is slow, and setting up totals is never easy. Most teams prefer to chase in this format, and we don't expect to see a break in this preference. The side winning the toss will look to bowl first and restrict the opposition to a small total.  

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS      

The weather in Melbourne will be cloudy on October 31. We expect a slow surface where the ball will stop on the batsmen. They must rotate the strike and choose their shots wisely to do well in the game. The side batting first will be happy to score 170 runs on this wicket.  

OUR PREDICTION      

The Australians struggled with the ball in the last game. Their bowling attack failed to execute its plans, and the team needs a strong new-ball show to create a chance for itself in this game. The Indians have more firepower in the batting department and a bowling attack that packs a punch. It will be a close game, but the Indians will start as favorites according to our cricket betting tips.  

Our prediction is for India to win