India, who lost the first ODI in Perth, have to emerge victorious in the second ODI in Brisbane on Friday to draw the five-match ODI series level and boost their chances of winning the series. Australia, on the other hand, will look to continue their winning ways at home against India in the second ODI.
Indian batsmen looked good in the first ODI, but it was ineffectiveness of the bowlers, which helped the home team get past India's total of 309 runs with ease. The bowlers have to deliver against Australia, else the Aussies might run away with the series.
Here is a look at some key players for the second ODI.
India
Shikhar Dhawan – The left-hander, who missed out in the first ODI scoring nine runs, will be eager to come up with a good batting display in Brisbane. The left hander, if he gets going, is one of those batsmen, who scores big and could turn out to be the deciding factor on Friday with fellow opener Rohit Sharma having already hit the ground running with his massive hundred. With Dhawan being the only left-hander in the team, India need him to stay at the batting crease for longer hours to make it a left-right combination, which can frustrate bowlers.
Barinder Sran – The lanky fast bowler after his impressive debut in the first ODI needs to perform once again and prove that his three wicket haul was not a flash in the pan. Sran, who was handed the responsibility of bowling the first over, needs to lead from the front with other bowlers such as Umesh Yadav and Bhuvneshwar Kumar looking below par. Though Sran might not have any experience, his bowling was top class and another such performance will gradually help him cement his place.
Australia
Steve Smith – The Australia skipper is all class when it comes to talking with the bat as was witnessed in the first ODI where he played a match winning knock, scoring 149 runs. It is not only his boundary hitting ability, but his running between the wickets and splitting the gaps open with his shots, which makes him a more dangerous batsman. Along with it, he is a quality player of spin bowling and even made Ravichandran Ashwin look helpless in the first ODI. He will be keen to lead from the front with the bat in the second ODI as well.
Josh Hazlewood – In the absence of Australia's strike bowler Mitchell Starc, the onus has fallen on Hazlewood to deliver with the ball and take quick wickets in the first 10 overs. Hazlewood might have bowled a tight line and length and dismissed Dhawan in the first ODI, he will have to come up with an improved performance to dismiss India's key players such as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli early, which will bring a broad smile on the faces of Australian players.
