Australia v India live T20I at Melbourne: India hunt for first win

For a side that was winning nearly everything just 12 months back to be losing everything now is a little difficult to comprehend, but such has been the story of India’s travesty and turnaround in fortunes.

The hopes of an improved performance in the T20 format were washed away when India lost by 31 runs in the first match. The second match will be played on Friday as the tourists look to level the series.

George Bailey, the Australian captain, could not have asked for a better debut to his international career or even captaincy career. It ended as an easy 31-run win, with imposing performances from wicket-keeper batsman Matthew Wade and David Hussey.

With many young faces in the side, they too will look to stake their claim in the upcoming match as the selectors aim to develop a new side that is best suited for this format in view of the ICC World Twenty to be played later this year in Sri Lanka.

For India, things seem to be going from bad to worse as they are fast running out of ideas and steam to challenge the Aussies.

The batsmen need to apply themselves better than they did in the first match as their chase got derailed in a matter of eleven balls where they lost three quick wickets, including that of Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli.

The bowlers also will be expected to lift their game further as the opposing batsmen scored runs at will. If India are to be a serious threat in the shortest format of the game, they need to improve their record drastically now having lost 13 of their last 23 matches.

The match starts at 08.30 GMT and will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Weather is not expected to interfere in this match unlike the first match where interruptions and playing in the rain posed some problems for the players.