Border Gavaskar Trophy, 2nd Test: An Analytical Preview of Day 2

image-le8ggqdjPeter Handscomb played a vital role on the first day (Source: AP Newsroom)

The action of the Border Gavaskar Trophy has shifted from Nagpur to Delhi. The Day 1 of the India-Australia 2nd test is done and dusted and we can say that the Hosts are slightly ahead in the competition. 

Much in the lines of the first Test, Pat Cummins won the toss and decided to bat first. It was a much better performance by the Australians with the bat this time. They put up a substantial total in the first innings and have India under a bit of pressure. But India have started well and it is all riled up for an exciting Day 2 action in the match. 


So, what can we expect from the two sides tomorrow and who will be the key players for the two team? Let us try and find an answer to the questions. 

First let us have look at the highlights of Day 1. 

Day 1 Highlights

  • Usman Khawaja sweeping away the Indian bowlers: From the very beginning of the innings it looked like Australia have come out with a much more positive approach than the first Test. Though wickets kept falling from one end, Usman Khawaja looked unfurled and kept sweeping the Indian spinners. He was dismissed at the personal score of 81 runs off 125 balls and it took a brilliant effort at point by KL Rahul to see his back. 
  • Calm and composed Peter Handscomb: While the Indians kept on chipping away with wickets from one end throughout the day, the Australians did not surrender this time without a fight. Their biggest warrior in this fight was Peter Handscomb, while most of the batters looked fidgety he looked calm and composed against the Indian spinners and helped his team a respectable total. Handscomb remained unbeaten at the end of the innings at 72 off 142 balls. 
  • Mohammed Shami leading the Indian bowling attack: Mohammed Shami looked at his best through out the day. He set the tone for the hosts picking up Warner and making inroads for the spinners. While Jadeja and Ashwin shared six wickets between them, Shami was the bowler with the best strike rate picking up 4 wickets in 14.4 overs. It was Shami's brilliance that helped India bundle the Australians out for 263 runs. 

India is currently stationed at 21 without any loss after 9 overs. Rohit Sharma (13 off 34) and KL Rahul (4 off 20) are out there and they will look to take the total well past the Australian one tomorrow. 


Expectations from Day 2

India's possible plan

India will primarily look to bat as long as possible in their first innings and take a considerable lead. The ideal situation for the Hosts will be that they bat once in the match and they will be going about the proceedings accordingly. However, if Rohit Sharma survives the first hour of Day 2, he will look to increase the scoring rate. 

Virat Kohli, who is long due for a big one in this format of the game will play a key role for India in Day two's play. If Rohit Sharma continues his form from the first match and bats long, then Virat Kohli's ability to rotate the strike in the middle will be very important to India's cause. 

So, I would just say 'Watch out for Virat Kohli tomorrow'.

image-le8g1my5Virat Kohli might play a key role in Day 2 of the second Test for team India (Source: AP Newsroom)

Australia's possible plan

Well Australia's plans are quite clear from their team selection for the match. They have only one seamer in their ranks and so lots of over from the spinners on Day 2 is evident. 

When it comes to the key player on day two for Australia, I would say it will be the debutant, Matt Kuhnemann. The Indians have a history of giving wickets away to debutants and we saw it in the last match with Todd Murphy. Besides, the majority of the Indian batting being right-handed, makes Kuhnemann as a left arm-spinner even more interested. 

image-le8g8awfMatthew Kuhnemann is going to be the key player for the Australian team on Day 2 (Source: AP Newsroom)

What will we see on Day 2?

  • Lots of overs from the Australian spinners.
  • Rohit Sharma looking to bat long and with a positive intent. 
  • Virat Kohli trying to make a significant impact with the bat
  • The pitch degrading and quite number of balls keeping low, turning or bouncing more than expected.