India vs Australia 2013 2nd Test Live Streaming,Star Cricket Live

Mahendra Singh Dhoni has got India off to an electric start last week. Now, the bike-crazy captain is looking to change gears and revving it up a bit in a bid to throttle the Australians and pull ahead as the second match of the four-Test series starts here on Saturday.

India vs Australia 2nd Test Match Live Streaming – Link 1

India vs Australia 2nd Test Match Live Streaming – Link 2

The pitch at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium will toss another challenge at the Aussies, already harassed by host-friendly tracks that threaten to throw them off-balance.

Armed with home advantage and a team that is ticking most of the boxes, Dhoni is flashing his radiant smile. Add to that his white hot form, a gamechanging double century that triggered an emphatic win in Chennai, and the confidence level is indeed high. There is ample support as well. Valuable knocks by Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara are evidence that Indian batting is in good hands.

However, the same cannot be said of the opposition.

Shackled by sparse experience in Indian conditions, the visitors’ batting will rely much on captain Michael Clarke, David Warner — who has regained full fitness after missing training because of a stomach bug on Thursday — and Moises Henriques, who displayed dogged determination in distress during the first Test.

Top order batsmen Phil Hughes, Ed Cowan and Shane Watson will have to punch a lot more if the Aussies are to get enough on the scoreboard.

The Indian bowling appears quite a handful for the Australians but homegrown left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha will fancy his chances in the playing XI, especially with history on his side — he had combined with Ashwin to grab 18 of the 20 New Zealand wickets the last time a Test was played here (in August 2012) which India won by an innings and 115 runs.

However, Dhoni could be prompted not to disturb the winning combination.

Ojha’s chances only brighten against the backdrop of below-par performance from frontline off-spinner Harbhajan Singh. If India have a problem of whom to drop, for Clarke's the question is who to pick?

The Australian bowling attack appears by and large clueless. That they packed pacers on a rank turner pointed to the misfiring think-tank and the inappropriate arsenal for specific combat. Barring speedster James Pattinson, none has been able to make an impression.

Nathan Lyon has faced much heat in the Indian summer, which has just begun. With figures of 3/215 and 1/29 in the 52.3 overs he bowled in Chennai, Lyon is in a very tight spot. However, the Aussie spin cupboard is almost bare.

Skipper Michael Clarke would be tempted to peep hard into it and probably pull out 30year-old Xavier Doherty, who has turned out in just two Tests so far. Then, there is Glenn Maxwell, IPL’s million dollar baby who is yet to play the highest form of the game. Fast bowler Paceman Mitchell Starc, who went wicketless in 25 overs, is the likely casualty should the visitors push for the second spinner.

Clarke sure has a tough task on hand. He might as well go into the match with an unchanged side, should he decide to give his faltering frontline a second chance.

Well, the series is not dead just yet but it doesn’t seem to be lively either, at least from the Aussie point of view.

STATSPEAK

The first Test match played at this venue between India and New Zealand in Novemeber 2010 ended in a draw while India defeated the Kiwis by an innings and 115 runs in August 2012.

This will be the third Test match at this ground. India have won one and drew one in two previous matches played at this venue and this will be the first to have a team other than New Zealand facing the hosts.

M.S. Dhoni has so far won five Tests as captain against Australia. Sourav Ganguly and Sunil Gavaskar are tied second with three wins.

West Indies Clive Lloyd is on top of the list with 12 victories against the Aussies. Live on TV India vs Australia 9.30 am STAR CRICKET