An enthralling cricket spectacle is on the horizon as India gears up to face Australia in the opening T20 International of the Australia tour of India 2023. The contest is set to unfold at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Thursday, November 23. The evening match, which will commence at 7:00 PM IST, will mark the beginning of a five-match T20I series serving as a precursor for the T20 World Cup 2024. The championship is earmarked for June next year, with the United States and the West Indies as the hosts.
Coming into this series, both cricketing giants have had a noteworthy ODI World Cup campaign. Australia snatched a victory from India in the final, achieving a six-wicket triumph to claim their sixth title, a new record in the cricketing annals. India’s T20I journey has seen them clinch their first-ever gold medal in cricket at the Asian Games 2023. This proud moment came during the event held from September to October earlier this year. On the other hand, Australia was seen dominating South Africa with a clean 3-0 sweep in the T20I series in August-September 2023, where Mitchell Marsh’s performance earned him the Player of the Series title for his impressive score of 186 runs, including two half-centuries.
The Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Stadium holds historical significance for these two teams, having hosted them only once for a T20I back in February 2019. That match saw Australia securing a victory by three wickets. With respect to the stadium’s T20I records, India has played three matches on this pitch, winning two and losing one. Australia has a perfect record, winning their only encounter at this venue.
When it comes to average scores at this stadium, India’s average stands at 129 runs in T20 matches, while Australia tails closely with an average score of 127 runs. India’s highest score at this venue is 179/5 in 20 overs against South Africa in June 2022, leading to a 48-run victory. As for Australia, their highest total also against India, was 127/7 in 20 overs, which was enough to clinch the win by three wickets.
Head-to-head in T20Is, the two teams have had 26 encounters, with India winning 15 of them and Australia taking 10. Interestingly, one match ended with no result. Given these statistics and the home field advantage for India, the cricket community anticipates that India would likely start the series on an upbeat and victorious note.
With an intense series ahead, cricket enthusiasts and pundits are keenly awaiting the clash of these titans on the pitch. The series is not just a run-of-the-mill bilateral competition but a strategic battleground with an eye on the forthcoming T20 World Cup, making every game a crucial step towards building momentum and form.
As the excitement builds, the fans are reminded to stay updated with the latest World Cup 2023 news, check out the World Cup 2023 schedules, support their teams on social media, and download cricket apps to stay connected to every thrilling moment of the India vs Australia 2023 cricket series. With preparations in full swing and strategies being devised, the stage is set for an unforgettable cricketing showdown.