MELBOURNE: Stung by a prolonged losing streak in what has turned out to be a nightmarish tour, a hapless India will now look to avoid a Twenty20 whitewash when they lock horns with Australia in the second match on Friday.
Completely outclassed in the humiliating 0-4 Test loss against the hosts, India had hoped for redemption in the limited over format but they again succumbed to a 31-run defeat in the first Twenty20.
The young legs did show some energy on the field but at the batting crease, they were no different to their Test seniors and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has to do something to inpsire his team on Friday.
In the bowling department too, the Indians failed to make early inroads in the Australian line-up and now that off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin’s card has been shown up to be blank by a rampant David Warner on Wednesday, Zaheer Khan’s return would be crucial to India’s chances.
The wicket at the MCG also might not suit spinners on Friday so overtly as it did in the ANZ Stadium. It’s a batting wicket and the skills of the bowlers would be tested utmost.
Dhoni believed it was the uneven surface which did his batsmen in and MCG might reflect their preparedness in a better light.
As things stood though, Indians checked in at their hotel in Melbourne this morning and would stay indoors though there was a word that a few youngsters might visit the MCG later in the afternoon.
It’s better they do, for if Australia seizes an early momentum, they would be difficult to put down in the one-day internationals. The corresponding effect of despondency in Indian ranks would be palpable too.
Australia, on the other hand, have been simply ruthless so far as after mauling India in the Test series, the hosts notched up a convincing victory in Sydney and they would now look to complete a Twenty20 clean sweep against the visitors on Friday.
Australia would only go better once Daniel Christian, Mitchell Marsh and Clint McKay get an opportunity to show their wares and chances are they would in front of 90,000 strong fans who are likely to turn up at the MCG, home of Australian cricket.
Christian has been on the fringes of selection in the Test side this summer and is viewed as one of the upcoming stars of Australian cricket. (PTI)