Team India will host Australia for three T20I series in the process of preparing for the T20 World Cup 2022. The series will get underway on Tuesday (September 20) in Mohali. The squads for both sides have already been announced and they are sweating hard to put on their best show in the high-voltage series.
Although the majority of players are fixed, there are still a couple of dilemmas for Rohit Sharma and Co. to solve ahead of the marquee event in October. Here, in this article, we will look at India’s predicted XI for the Australia T20Is.
1) Openers: Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul
There is no question that captain Rohit Sharma will take care of the opening duties for the Men in Blue. He has been one of the most prolific scorers in white-ball cricket, and there will be high hopes from him. Apart from him, KL Rahul is expected to retain his position in the side. Though he wasn’t at his best after coming back from a long injury, he is still a valuable asset for his side as when he is in rhyme, he is as dangerous as any batter in the world.
2) Middle Order: Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant
Virat Kohli’s return to form will be a big boost for Team India ahead of the next assignment. He is the best in the business and an absolute match winner. Suryakumar Yadav is also a prominent name in the side who has the ability to pace the innings with ease and provide a link between top-order and middle-order.
While there has been a big debate over Rishabh Pant’s position in the side, he is likely to be given another shot at fixing his spot. With Ravindra Jadeja’s injury, the Men in Blue will be keen to have a left-handed batter in the dominant right-handed line-up.
3) All-rounders: Hardik Pandya and Deepak Hooda
Hardik Pandya is undoubtedly an automatic pick as he contributes in all three departments. Whether it’s with the bat in his hand or the ball, he has the ability to change the course of the game and clinch a victory for his side. Although Deepak Hooda is a top-order batter, India tried him in the lower order in the recently concluded Asia Cup 2022. He is likely to get a run in his new position to help him settle and provide flexibility in the line-up.
4) Bowlers: Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel
Yuzvendra Chahal is the only premium spinner to feature in the side. He has been a match winner for a long time now and Team India would not like to commit to what they did in the last T20 World Cup edition. Jasprit Bumrah, who has been India’s best format, especially in the shortest format, is a no-brainer.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar recently faced criticism for his poor bowling in death overs but he is a treat to watch with the new ball. He has the ability to swing both ways and is a deadly weapon in the powerplay overs. Arshdeep Singh’s absence from the squad will eventually open up a spot for Harshal Patel, who will come after an injury.
