Twenty20 game two – Aus vs. India match predictions & best odds

Where: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne

When: Friday, 29th of January, 7:40pm

Where to watch: Live on free-to-air Channel 9

The Australian domination of the Indians this summer is looking shaky after the home side lost their opening Twenty20 match up against the visitors at the Adelaide Oval.

The Indians have now won two matches in a row on Australian soil and will look to continue their good form in Melbourne where the two teams will clash in the second Twenty20 contest.

The Aussies were unable to make a dent in the Indian innings, taking just three wickets.

Virat Kohli again tore the home side apart, scoring 90 runs off 71 balls to help his side to a formidable 188 runs, a target the Australians were unable to chase down.

After a lacklustre series in the One Day Internationals, Ravi Ashwin returned in brilliantly in the shortest form of the game, taking two wickets whilst only conceding 28 runs.

Australian captain Aaron Finch believes the home side’s ability to deal with the spinners will need to improve vastly if they are to bounce back in the remaining two matches.

“When you’re chasing 9-10 runs an over against world-class spinner like Ashwin and Jadeja, it’s always going to be tough, so when you’re ultra-aggressive against them then that makes for favouring them.” Finch said.

“They’re both world class and if you’re looking to maximise your attack on them, then they’re always going to be a chance and tonight wasn’t our night.”

Finch will be hoping his side can show a significant improvement going into Melbourne given the number one spot in the Twenty20 international rankings potentially at stake for the Australians.

While cricket is always referred to as a team sport the reason most people tune in to the Twenty20 is to see the big hits and the wickets tumble from the individual players – something the shorter format provides in spades.

Let’s have a look at the best individual markets and see if we can find some value.

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Top run scorer markets

Now that the Big Bash League has wrapped up for another season the focus shifted to Adelaide for the Australian sporting public to get their big-hit fix, but unfortunately the home side did not come to the party.

After a meagre top score of just 44, the Australians will need to lift considerably.

The Indians were wonderful with the willow, scoring at a fast rate – which was exemplified by the fact that only one player failed to score at a strike rate under 120.

The MCG will present an opportunity for the Australians to turn things around, but the Indians will be full of confidence after a terrific start to the T20 series.

Australia’s top scorer – Steve Smith

The Australian test captain failed to make a big impact in game one, even though his score of 21 was the second highest score for his team.

What Smith has on his side going into Melbourne is form; where he has averaged over 50 runs across all formats on his visits to the MCG.

Expect Steve Smith to bounce back at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to help steer his side to victory.

Sportsbet has Steve Smith at $4.33 to top score for the Australians

India’s top scorer – Virat Kohli

Who else but the Indian masterblaster Virat Kohli?

The man who is ranked inside the top-two in both the ODI and T20 rankings was fantastic in Adelaide in the opening Twenty20 match, scoring 90 runs off just 71 balls.

The man is close to being the best batsman in the world across all formats right now and is one of the safer bets in this match to top score for his team.

Sportsbet has Virat Kohli at $3.40 to top score for the Indians

Top wicket taker markets

The Australians will be looking to improve immensely with the ball.

The home side took just three wickets in their attempt to bowl the Indians out, which should bring about some changes to the attack.

The Indians were spectacular in negating Australia’s ability to chase down the big total.

Spinners Ashwin and Jadeja tore the Aussie attack apart which left the lower order fighting just to survive.

Let’s take a look at who is likely to impact at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Australia’s top wicket taker – Andrew Tye

Andrew Tye had a stellar season for the Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash League, and after missing the first match in Adelaide he is a certainty to come in given the Australians only took three wickets.

Tye’s right arm fast bowling was one of the reasons the Scorchers progressed through to the semi-finals and will shine if he is given the chance to impress on the MCG.

Sportsbet has Andrew Tye at $4.00 to take the most wickets for the Australians

India’s top wicket taker – Ravi Ashwin

After failing to impress in the recent ODI series, Ashwin made his presence felt in the T20 format, taking two wickets at a respectable economy.

Again Ashwin will be MS Dhoni’s go-to man on the MCG pitch given the Australians’ susceptibility to spin.

Sportsbet has Ravi Ashwin at $4.00 to take the most wickets for the Indians