India v Australia Second Test Tips: Warner on the wane in Delhi

Ed Hawkins
16 February 2023
2:30 min read

Warner is struggling in India

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Ed Hawkins previews game two at the Arun Jaitley Stadium with the tourists under pressure...

India v Australia
Friday 17 February, 04:00
TV: Live on BT Sports

Team news

India have the luxury of being able to retain a winning team for game two. But it would be smart of them to reject it.

Shreyas Iyer is available again following injury and given that he's a proven middle-order batter in this format and the man in possession, Suryakumar Yadav should make way. It seems as though coach Rahul Dravid agrees, saying those who have been injured should come straight back. Unfortunately for Australia, Iyer makes the home team stronger.

Probable XI: Rohit, Rahul, Pujara, Kohli, Iyer, Bharat, Jadeja, Axar, Ashwin, Shami, Siraj

Australia are in a mess. All of their own making. Why turn up in India with so many left-handers when the three home spinners all move the ball away?

David Warner and Matt Renshaw are both under pressure for their place, although it is understood that the former's axing may be premature. The Aussies may need to find room for Cameron Green, who is making progress in returning from a busted finger.

The news on Mitchell Starc is not as good. He is struggling for fitness so Scott Boland could retain his place or Ashton Agar could play as third spinner and lengthen the batting.

Possible XI: Warner, Khawaja, Labuschagne, Smith, Handscomb, Green, Carey, Cummins, Murphy, Boland, Lyon

Pitch report

There's been only one Test at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in recent times at that was 2017. It's not hugely helpful. Thirteen wickets out of 15 did fall to spin as Sri Lanka managed a draw. It is fair to assume that it will be a different pitch for India and Australia, though. India would be mad not to feed their spinners.

Going under Australia runs at around 245.5 could be a par-line wager. Add a hundred for India at around 2.111/10.

How to play

India are 1.511/2, Australia 5.14/1 and the draw 8.07/1. It has to be said those prices are about right. It beggars belief we were able to get 1.784/5 India for game one.

If they were to rise to something similar again in-play we'd be very keen to get with the hosts. We don't have any faith in this Australia batting.

The notion that Green is some sort of saviour is based on one chancey knock against Sri Lanka when he tried to sweep everything. In that regard he and Alex Carey are accidents waiting to happen.

Back P Cummins top Australia 1st inns bat

50/1

Back under 31.5 D Warner 1st inns runs

5/6

Tops value

Warner looked all at sea in game one. Not surprising considering his average in India which is plumetting from the mid 20s. He has also admitted to being exhausted. india is hardly a place to recuperate in this game. We should be able to short his innings runs at around 31.5 with Sportsbook. It's a top wager.

Backing Pat Cummins again for top Aussie bat in the first dig is worth a small interest at 50/1, so long as he sets the tone and shows some aggression. He's a right-hander.

Ravi Ashwin is boosted to 23/10 for top India bolwer in the first dig. Ravi Jadeja is 2/1. They are 6 the pair for man of the match.

Virat Kohli, who notched a double on this ground in 2017, is 3/1 to top, 5/1 for a ton and 5/4 for a fity - al in first-innings. Shreays is 7s to top score.

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