The Indian cricket team is poised to face Australia in what promises to be an electrifying third T20I clash at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati this Tuesday, November 28. With a scheduled start time of 7:00 PM IST, the stage is set for a potential series-sealing match for India. Led by the dynamic Suryakumar Yadav, the Men in Blue have been in scintillating form, already having secured victories in the first two matches of the five-game series.
The Barsapara Cricket Stadium has seen an outpouring of runs in recent encounter, and as India and Australia brace for their face-off, both sides are expected to capitalize on the conditions. Guwahati’s pitch is known to favor batsmen, with the previous T20I at this venue amassing over 400 runs. The weather seems promising for a full game with no rain forecasted, and a comfortable temperature of around 21 degrees Celsius accompanying a moderate humidity level.
The opening fixture saw India chase down a formidable target of 208 runs, largely thanks to a stellar 42-ball knock of 80 by ‘SKY’ Yadav and a powerful half-century by Ishan Kishan. Their second victory was marked by a dominant score of 235/4, established by fifties from the top-order trio of Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Kishan, with a fiery finish from Rinku Singh, who smashed an unbeaten 31 off just nine deliveries. Bishnoi and Krishna, both claiming three wickets each, were the stars with the ball, crafting a 44-run win over the Aussies.
Now, with home advantage and the lead in hand, India is turning to the Guwahati grounds to potentially secure the series. Dew would play its part in the proceedings, hence the toss-winning skipper might look to chase, a trend that has been favored at the venue.
In terms of the lineup, India is likely to field Suryakumar Yadav (c), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar, and Prasidh Krishna. The Australian side may see Matthew Wade (c/wk), Steve Smith, Matthew Short, Josh Inglis, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Glenn Maxwell, Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, and Tanveer Sangha.
Fantasy XI recommendations include Ishan Kishan and Matthew Wade as wicket-keepers; for batsmen, one might consider Jaiswal, Yadav, Gaikwad, and Inglis. With Axar Patel as the sole all-rounder, the bowlers to look out for are Prasidh Krishna, Ravi Bishnoi, Nathan Ellis, and Tanveer Sangha.
Ishan Kishan is a prime candidate for captaincy in fantasy leagues, having accumulated 110 runs so far at an impressive strike rate of 155, which includes the maximum number of sixes in the series. As for vice-captaincy, Josh Inglis, despite experiencing second-game blues, remains a top choice given his initial century and status as the top run-getter in the series.
The anticipation is running high for this cricketing spectacle, and fans across the globe are gearing up for what might be a defining match in the series. Those following the event can also catch the latest updates on the upcoming World Cup 2023 and related schedules through popular sports platforms and apps. The cricket community is keeping their eyes glued, as India looks to cement their lead and Australia aims to bounce back with their renowned resilience.