All Eyes on Shreyas Iyer and R. Ashwin as India Searches for Final Answers Before the World Cup in the Second One-Day International Between India and Australia

Before playing in the One-Day International World Cup, Shreyas Iyer has to rack up some runs quickly since time is running out. The middle-order hitter made his comeback to competitive cricket after a lengthy absence caused by an injury; however, since his return, he has only gotten to bat in two matches and has not been able to make any significant contribution. He had a chance to score well in the first one-day international against Australia, but he was dismissed for just three runs. Due to a back spasm, he was unable to participate in the Super 4 stage or the final of the Asia Cup, which has led to some doubts over his overall level of fitness.

In addition to Iyer, all eyes will be on Ravichandran Ashwin once again as he attempts to build a case for himself in order to be included in the World Cup team at the very last minute. The squad would want him to contribute more with the ball in the middle overs when India play Australia in the second one-day international that will take place here on Sunday. He only managed to capture one wicket in the first one-day international.

In spite of the unavailability of captain Rohit Sharma as well as Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, and Kuldeep Yadav, India secured a convincing five-wicket victory in the first one-day international. India had a well-rounded effort, with Suryakumar Yadav’s fifty providing the Indian team management with the greatest sense of comfort.

After enduring the extraordinary heat and humidity in Mohali, the players from both teams would be relieved to see that rain has reduced the temperature in the city down to a more comfortable level.

The match on Friday had many positives for India, the most notable of which was the performance of Mohammad Shami and Suryakumar Yadav; nevertheless, there are still a few concerns that need to be solved before to the start of the World Cup on October 5.

Iyer, who is India’s official number 4 and whose health was called into question during the Asia Cup despite the fact that he was making his way back after a lengthy absence due to injury, has not been able to receive any playing time in the middle for a variety of reasons.

While he was unable to compete in the latter stages of the Asia Cup due to a back spasm, his nervous 8-ball stint in the middle was cut short on Friday by a run out that should have been avoided. The right-handed batter and his squad will be feeling a lot more confident about their chances in the next international competition if they can score a large number of runs in the next two games.

On the other side, Ashwin bowled rather well in his first game back after his injury, but he was unable to cause the Australian hitters any difficulty because the pitch was too flat. He was unable to produce much spin, and the opposition was easy able to navigate his flatter deliveries since they were so predictable.

If Axar Patel doesn’t get fit in time for India’s World Cup, the team management is hoping for more from the 37-year-old veteran spinner than what he was able to do on Friday. The champion spinner still has a chance to earn a late entrance into the tournament. There is also the question of whether or not the off-spinner Washington Sundar will play any matches. If anything like that occurs on Sunday, Ashwin could be required to sit on the bench. In the first game, Shardul Thakur let up 78 runs in 10 overs, while all of the other bowlers posted modest statistics. As a result, Shardul Thakur will also want to see an improvement from that performance. He does have a flair for scooping up wickets and coming up with a meaningful cameo with the bat, but in the one-day international format, he has not been able to accomplish any of those things regularly. Because Thakur will only be utilized in limited situations at the World Cup, he will want to make the most of the opportunities he is given to contribute in the current series.

After a lengthy dry spell, Suryakumar Yadav, who is considered to be the finest T20 batsman in the world, seems to have figured out how to bat in one-day internationals.

The management has instructed him to eat between 45 and 50 balls during each game, which is sufficient for someone of his caliber to have a significant influence on the contest. On Friday, he accomplished it with a fifty that was played at a good tempo.

Mitchell Starc, Glenn Maxwell, and Josh Hazlewood were some of the important players for Australia who weren’t available for the first game against India. India was also shorthanded. After the match in Mohali, the skipper Pat Cummins gave some hints that the team would not be ready until the third match, which will take place in Rajkot on September 27.

The early part of this year saw Australia take the series victory in India, and now they are in a position where they must win on Sunday. The middle order has to be more consistent, but Josh Inglis’s run-a-ball 45 is a promising sign for the team’s future.

David Warner, a veteran opener, has brought his outstanding form from South Africa to India, where he is now playing, and he will be trying to continue it over the next couple of months.

Both Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne were responsible for losing their starts in Mohali, and if Australia is going to make a comeback in the series, it will be necessary for any of them to get a significant hundred.

The most recent one-day international was held at this venue in January, and India defeated New Zealand by a score of 385 to 382, with centuries scored by Rohit and Shubman Gill.

Even if Rohit will not be there, you may put your faith in Gill to do an encore in front of the enthusiastic throng in Indore.

Squads: India: K L Rahul (captain), Ravindra Jadeja, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan, Shardul Thakur, Washington Sundar, R Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.

Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Adam Zampa, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Starc, Steve Smith, David Warner, Josh Hazlewood, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Tanvir Sangha, and Matt Short make up the Australian team, which is captained by Pant Cummins. Also on the team are Tanvir Sangha and Matt Short.

The match will begin at 1:30 p.m. IST.