India hit their stride with a dominant display over the weekend and are now on the brink of a series win. Australia are out to avoid losing the five-match series in three but will have a tough task to match the hosts.
To Win Match
India 67/100 | Tie 25/1 | Australia 5/4
The 40 000-capacity Assam Cricket Association Stadium in Barsapara hosts a T20 International for the third time.
India will be delighted with how their young top order have stood up to be counted in this series, with great knocks from Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan last time out.
Surykumar Yadav fired in the series opener as well and the India top four couldn’t be in much better touch.
Axar Patel was a difference-maker with the ball and has dispelled any concerns there might have been around his fitness after his withdrawal from the Cricket World Cup.
Prasidh Krishna showed a willingness to buy a few wickets but might want to tighten up his lines just a little bit for better results.
Australia won the very first T20I at the ground in great style, but there is a lot of water under the bridge since 2017.
While this team is set up to bat deep, they need more urgency at the top of the innings to match a team like India, and the option to open with Steve Smith doesn’t really make a whole lot of sense.
If Australia do get a good start, they will bring their world-class finishers into the game, but they left them too much to do at Greenfield in the second T20.
Matthew Wade has marshalled the tail well but the skipper was left far too much to do in the second match of the series.
Verdict: India 67/100
India should be able to close out this series with a win for a 3-0 lead in the five-match engagement.
