What

Second ODI of the seven-match series between India and Australia

When

Wednesday, October 16, 2013 at 13:30 IST

Where

Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur

The Teams

India

The loss in the first ODI of the series must have shaken MS Dhoni’s men. They were completely outplayed by the Aussies in all departments, including strategising. The bowlers were below par once again, especially towards the end of the innings, after getting off to a disciplined start. Meanwhile, the batsmen fell prey to Australia’s short-ball plan and aided them with some ordinary shots.

Batting, which has always been India’s strength, let them down in the first game. However, the match was lost by the bowlers, who conceded 304 runs. While he wouldn’t be panicking as yet, MS Dhoni would be a touch concerned over the lack of teeth in his pace attack. However, going by the Indian captain’s fondness for continuity, we can expect him to field an unchanged XI.

Australia

They surprised all with their near-perfect performance at Pune. They certainly looked like a team that had learned from their previous experience and did their homework prior to the ODI series. The Indians were caught unawares and played into their opponent’s hands. If the recent IPL and CLT20 experience is anything to go by, the Jaipur track will suit the Australian bowlers as well as their plan. George Bailey will want to continue with the team combination that worked perfectly for him in the last game.

Key Players

India

A few days back Suresh Raina spoke of his desire to bat higher up the order for India. Dhoni has now given him the No.4 spot and it is up to the left-hander to vindicate his captain’s confidence in him. To be able to succeed at this position, Raina will have to change his game plan and the way he builds his innings. Patience is one virtue he will have to demonstrate in abundance and shot-selection will be a more crucial part of his game than it used to be when he was called in to finish games. With his talent, expect the young man to play himself in at No.4 for India.

Australia

James Faulkner was impressive in the first ODI, claiming three key wickets. Having struck form, the left-arm pacer will be more than happy to fly to Jaipur – the venue where he has achieved huge success with the Rajasthan Royals in this year’s IPL and CLT20. The fact that he has been a big factor in RR’s unbeaten home streak this season will add a spring to his stride as he prepares to bowl at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.

Statistics

Matches at Jaipur

India in last 5 matches at Jaipur

Results at Jaipur

Pace vs Spin at Jaipur (Last 5 matches)

Trivia/approaching milestones

Mitchell Johnson needs 1 wicket to become most successful foreign bowler on Indian soil. He will surpass Muttiah Muralitharan’s tally of 38 wickets

Yuvraj Singh needs 31 runs to tally 1000 runs against Australia. He will become the second batsman to aggregate 1000-plus runs against Australia, after Sachin Tendulkar who has an aggregate of 3077 runs. One more dismissal will take MS Dhoni ahead of Moin Khan’s tally of 287 dismissals in ODIs. Only Gilchrist (472), Boucher (424) and Sangakkara (419) will be ahead of the Indian skipper then.

Squads

India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, R. Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Vinay Kumar, Amit Mishra, Ambati Rayudu, Mohammed Shami, Jaydev Unadkat

Australia: George Bailey (Captain), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Callum Ferguson, Aaron Finch, Brad Haddin, Moises Henriques, Phil Hughes, Mitchell Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, Clint McKay, Adam Voges, Shane Watson.