2018 Australia vs India 2nd T20 Preview & Betting Tips

The first T20 between Australia and India is in the books and it was the home team that claimed a thrilling win in the series opener in Brisbane. The series now moves on to Melbourne this Friday night for the Game 2, where India will be looking to avoid an early series defeat. We take a look at the game and give our betting tips below. 

Australia vs India T20 Game 2 Betting Tips

Australia were able to compile a total of 4/158 off just 17 overs in a rain affected match in Game 1 at the Gabba. The total was adjusted due to the Duckworth-Lewis system, meaning India required 174 to win off their 17 overs. The tourists looked good heading into the final few oers, but ultimately fell five runs short of the revised total as Australia took a 1-0 lead in the series. 

Glenn Maxwell was fantastic with the bat for the Aussies, compiling 46 off just 24 deliveries while Marcus Stoinis and Chris Lynn both chipped in with 33* and 37 respectively.  Spinner Kuldeep Yadav was the pick of the Indian bowlers, claiming 2-24 off his four overs with a great economy rate of just 6 runs per over. 

In the second innings, it was Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan who gave the Indians a fighting chance, smashing 76 off just 42 balls including 10 fours and 2 sixes. Wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik both played well late in the innings but couldn’t get their team over the line. With 2-22 off his four overs and an economy rate of just 5.50, Adam Zampa silenced critics after a disappointing ODI series against South Africa. 

Friday night’s game will be played on an MCG pitch that which played host to a fantastic Sheffield Shield match a few weeks ago between Victoria and South Australia. The match provided some for bat and ball as Victoria compiled 351 in the first innings before bowling South Africa out for 244 and 230 before the match was eventually abandoned due to rain. 

India were probably unlucky in Game 1 of the series. The adjustment of the total score via the Duckworth-Lewis system worked against them, requiring them to score over 10 runs per over to win. I think if the game had not been interrupted by rain, the Australians might have struggled to score 200. India’s batting line-up looked damaging against an Australian batting lineup that is predominantly made up of state level players. Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Rahul Lokesh and Rohit Sharma are all in scintillating form at the moment, and we think that foursome carries them to a bounce back win at the MCG. 

Aaron Finch has been the Australian’s most consistent batsmen throughout the ODI’s and one off T20 against South Africa and was good once again on Wednesday night, scoring 27 off just 24 balls in the Aussies win. Doesn’t seem to have much of a problem with the Indian pacemen and if he can get in, should be a great chance to top score for the Aussies.