NAGPUR: The combination of Harshal Patel and Jasprit Bumrah is expected to give the struggling Indian attack a much-needed boost. The Rohit Sharma-led side has not only been out of sorts in the middle overs but also at the death.
With Harshal making a comeback in Mohali and Bumrah getting fit ahead of the second T20I in Nagpur’s VCA Jamtha, India’s middle over and death overs dilemma is expected to be addressed during the second T20 International against Australia on Friday.

Though Harshal grappled while dealing with the visitors in his comeback match, the in-form middle-order bat Suryakumar Yadav feels Harshal, the slower ball specialist, needs to get some time to settle.
“Harshal’s slower balls are very deceptive. It is not easy to face him. Whenever I have faced him in practice, he was not predictable. He has been working hard and has just made a comeback from injury, he deserves to get a benefit of doubt. We need to cut him some slack,” said Yadav ahead of the match in a virtual media interaction.
Yadav lifted the suspense over Bumrah’s availability. “Everyone is fit and ready to play, including Bumrah,” said Yadav, who hammered a 25-ball 46 in the first T20I in Mohali on Tuesday. The announcement is a big plus for the home side.
The batting line-up led by skipper Sharma is all but settled and need no alteration. Yadav, who has cemented his place at No.4, said that he is ready to bat where the team wants. “I keep my planning ready for all situations. I am flexible to bat anywhere, and the preparation is going well,” he said.
India had lost the skipper and Virat Kohli cheaply in the opening game. Yet, the middle-order propelled India to a handsome total. They would look to bat in the similar tempo in pursuit of levelling the series.
“Everyone knows their roles. Openers know the plan. The middle order is aware of how to set up the game. And finishers know how to deal at the end and we saw that in Mohali. We will try to do the same thing again and again in the future,” he added.