IND vs AUS, 1st T20I  | Australia Predicted XI vs India

image-lpa1qu9oAustralia will be playing against India in a five-match T20I series (Source: AP Photos)

Not even a week has passed by since Australia became the champions of the 2023 ODI World Cup after defeating India comprehensively. The two nations are heading towards another battle in the coming days but in a different format.  With majority of the senior players missing on both teams, the World Cup finalists will face off in the first of a five-match T20I series on November 23 (Thursday) at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam.

After the main event drama on Sunday, most of the Indian players from the World Cup squad have been rested for the upcoming series. Suryakumar Yadav has been named captain, with Ruturaj Gaikwad as his deputy. Shreyas Iyer will take his place as the side's vice-captain for the final two T20Is.

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Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, and Washington Sundar, are among the vibrant colors inthe team. Ishan Kishan is likely to be picked over Jitesh Sharma for the wicketkeeper position. In the lower middle order, Shivam Dube and Axar Patel are set to forge the All-rounder quota. Gujarat all-rounder, Hardik Pandya is still struggling through injury and yet to recover until lasy week of January. 


Australia has chosen a 15-man roster for this prized series, led by Matthew Wade. Several senior players from the Champion team have been rested. David Warner, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Mitch Marsh, and Cameron Green are among those who have headed back home.

The World Cup squad consists of Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Sen Abbott, and Adam Zampa from the quadrrineal event. Tanveer Sangha, who was a traveling reserve for Australia's men's cricket team during the World Cup, is also on the team.  Kane Richardson has been included as an injury cover for Spencer Johnson while Tim David, Matthew Short, Jason Behrendorrf, and Aaron Hardie are other members who fill the bucket.

Having said that, let us take a quick look at Australia's Predicted XI for the first T20I against India.

Openers: Steve Smith and Travis Head

Steve Smith attracted some drumrolls after his impressive performance with the bat for the Sydney Sixers during 2022-23 Big Bash League. Smudge opened the batting on most cases and notched up two fine-tuned centuries. He has had a below par World Cup campaign with respect to his standards and this could be a final opportunity for Smith to test himself in the T20I format. 

Travis Head has been the superstar of the World Cup final for Australia. He peppered the hosts with his range of strokes and aggressive batting. The southpaw scored two centuries during the recently concluded World Cup campaign and is likely to open the batting in this series.


Middle Order: Matt Short, Glenn Maxwell and Matthew Wade 

Australia could line up with a middle order that is equally good with the ball in hand. Matt Short had a tremendous BBL season in 2022-23 due to which he also earned an IPL contract with the Punjab Kings and a national call-up in the T20I side. He could feature at no.3 and it won't be surprising to see Short operate with the ball inside the powerplay. 

Glenn Maxwell played an innings of a lifetime against Afghanistan when his team was reeling for 91-7. He stockpiled a double ton that steered his side past the finishing line. Maxwell is one of the senior members of the squad and shall be an integral part of the batting order along with Matthew Wade. The southpaw is a fabulous batter in this format and played a great part in their victory during the 2021 T20 World Cup.


All-rounders: Tim David, Marcus Stoinis and Sean Abbott

Although, Maxwell and Short form a part of this category, Tim David, Marcus Stoinis and Sean Abbott could be seen with the bat in the lower-middle order. David has been fluent in finishing a chase or taking the innings to a commendable total in the slog overs. He shall be accompanied by yet another prolific finisher in Stoinis. Sean Abbott will be the bowling all-rounder for the side. It is worth noting that Abbott smashed a century in the T20I Blast this year for Surrey and his batting abilities cannot be taken lightly.


Bowlers: Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Ellis and Adam Zampa

Jason Behrendorff can provide the left-arm pacer's angle with the new ball and has the ability to strike early. He will be key under lights when the ball moves laterally. The tall pacer can extract extra bounce off the surfaces too. 

Behrendorff is likely to be assisted by Nathan Ellis with the ball. He can bowl with equal efficiency across various phases of an innings. The pacer has played here in India for the past few years during the IPL and can be more than handy with the ball. 

Adam Zampa was the second-highest leading wicket-taker during the World Cup 2023 and will look to trasition his form into the shorter format. The wrist spinner will be leading the spin department of the Kangaroos in the upcoming series.


Australia Predicted XI against India 

Steve Smith, Travis Head, Matt Short, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Wade, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Sean Abbott, Jason Behrendorff, Adam Zampa, and Nathan Ellis.