Technically the group stages of the Cricket T20 World Cup are still in operation on Sunday but the second match of the day is quite simply a quarter final in all but name as India meet Australia in Mohali.
With both sides having symmetrical results in the group so far it is winner takes all in this cricket match. The winners will face the West Indies in the semi-final on Thursday while the losers will be looking on and thinking what might have been.
India lost their first match against New Zealand and it must be said they have ridden their luck in both matches since then but to give them credit they have held their nerve under extreme pressure to keep their hopes alive going into this final group game.
Given that they’ve not changed their side to date in the tournament I think it is safe to say that barring any illnesses or such like on the day of the game that this match will see them unchanged for the fourth straight time.
Australia also lost their opening game in the tournament to New Zealand but to their credit they have looked much more comfortable in beating Bangladesh and Pakistan. The scorelines actually flattered those two opponents if we are being completely truthful about things.
Unlike their opponents here, Australia have changed their side for every cricket match so far which suggests they’ve still not found the combinations they are looking for. If they are to change again here you would think the wicket-less Nathan Coulter-Nile could be the first one for the chop. John Hastings could come back in for him.
Mohali is the venue for this match. This will be the last game on this ground in this tournament. As we saw in the last game here Australia don’t mind conditions here although with a women’s match in extreme heat earlier in the day it would be very surprising if this wicket doesn’t turn and play slow and low.
If Australia like the conditions India will have no fear about who they have to play in this match because they have won the last five meetings between the two nations in the 20 over game and six of the last seven. That includes three wins in Australia earlier in the year when India were as dominant as it is possible to be.
India should have lost to Bangladesh last time out of that there is no doubt but they say you know when your name is on the cup and that could be the moment that India’s one was started to be engraved on it.
Funnily enough both batting line ups in this match have struggled against spin in this tournament which is actually pretty crazy when you think about it especially from an Indian point of view given that playing spin is meant to come naturally to them and be a big strength.
If this becomes a battle of the spinners then I’m afraid for Australian fans Ashwin, Jadeja and Raina jump all over Zampa and Maxwell each and every time and that could well be the difference in this match.
The head to head record between the two says we should be on India in this match as does their big game credentials so even at 8/11 I’ll back the tournament hosts to keep their own party alive with a win here.
WON – Back India to beat Australia for a 4/10 stake at 1.73 with Ladbrokes
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