The Indian cricket team is set to face Australia in the first T20 International (T20I) of Australia’s tour, which includes a series of five T20I matches. This opening encounter is scheduled for Thursday, November 23 at the Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, with the match kicking off at 7:00 PM IST. This series marks the beginning of India’s preparations for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which will take place in the USA and West Indies next year.
With an eye on the coveted World Cup, India’s squad has been shaped by recent performances and fitness updates. Ruturaj Gaikwad is expected to open the innings, bringing with him a trail of impressive displays, including leading the national team to a gold medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games 2023. Gaikwad’s prowess was further confirmed during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he scored 244 runs in six matches with a strike rate of 174.28.
Yashasvi Jaiswal is anticipated to partner with Gaikwad at the top of the order. Jaiswal also had a successful outing at the Asian Games with a noteworthy century against Nepal and was Mumbai’s top run-scorer in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, tallying 242 runs in eight matches.
The middle order appears formidable with Tilak Varma, who topped the run charts for Hyderabad in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, scoring 288 runs across seven matches. Varma played a significant part in India’s Hangzhou Games triumph. Ishan Kishan, after stepping in during the ODI World Cup, is expected to further enliven the middle-order with his energetic and bold batting.
Suryakumar Yadav, bestowed with the captaincy, enters the fray on the back of an exasperating ODI World Cup campaign. Known for his panoramic shot-play, earning him the epithet ‘Mr. 360,’ Yadav will be keen to improve his T20I average of 17.66 from the World Cup. Uttar Pradesh’s Rinku Singh, recognised for his hitting capabilities, could provide the late-innings acceleration India often seeks.
The all-rounder roles have been assigned to Washington Sundar and Axar Patel. Washington Sundar, with both bat and ball, has proven his capabilities in T20Is for India, while Axar Patel, who remains a consistent wicket-taking option, makes a return post an injury that sidelined him during the ODI World Cup.
The fast bowling department will likely feature Arshdeep Singh who comes off a stellar season that included securing the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Punjab. His haul of 10 wickets was crucial for his team’s success. Pacer Prasidh Krishna, serving as a replacement during the ODI World Cup without getting game time, has featured in only a pair of T20I matches for India but has proven potential with four wickets to his name.
Avesh Khan secures the final spot in the pace battery. His participation in the gold-medal-winning effort at the Asian Games and three wickets in the domestic T20 tournament further bolster his selection.
As the team lines up with this predicted XI, the inclusion of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Suryakumar Yadav (c), Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, and Avesh Khan aims to strike the perfect balance between youth and experience. With World Cup 2023 on the horizon, each match serves as a building block towards the ultimate goal. Fans can stay tuned to music platforms like JioSaavn for the latest songs, and for more sports updates, social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter are the go-to sources along with the NDTV Cricket app for Android or iOS devices. India vs Australia’s T20 series promises to be an exciting precursor to the global T20 showcase next year.