IND vs AUS, 5th T20I| India Predicted XI vs Australia 

image-lpo2vo5yIndia and Australia will be playing against each other in the fifth match of the T20I series (Source: AP Photos)

India have already sealed the five-match T20I series against Australia. But it isn't over until it's actually over. The two teams will face each other in the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore on December 3 for the final game of the scheduled bilateral event. 

The series tally lies 3-1 in favour of India at the moment and this game is nothing short of a dead-rubber.  The Aussies have underperformed in the first two games but bounced back with a win in Guwahati. Glenn Maxwell was the differentiating factor in that run-feast who ended up his two-and-a-half months time in India on a high. 

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The Indian side came back hard on the visitors in the fourth T20I where the bowlers defended 174 runs after a dismal performance in the third T20I. With seven months away from the 2024 T20I World Cup, the forthcoming encounter will be yet another chance to be in contention for the mega-event in the next summer.

Let us have a quick glance at India's Predicted XI against Australia.


Openers: Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad

India could retain the same opening pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad for this dead-rubber. Jaiswal has the second-highest batting strike rate among batters within first ten faced deliveries since 2021. He has an attacking mindset and often takes the opposition bowlers for cleaners inside the powerplay. 

Ruturaj Gaikwad is just the opposite to his partner. His tendency is to be careful at the start and play the long innings with change of gears. Gaikwad has notched up 355 runs in his last nine matches while Jaiswal has scored 264 in his last ten games.


Middle-Order: Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Jitesh Sharma and Rinku Singh

Shreyas Iyer is the vice-captain of the team and appeared in the last game. Although he and Suryakumar Yadav failed to contribute in excess with the bat, the duo holds a crucial spot in the Indian middle order line-up. The Mumbai duo should feature in the dead-rubber match unless Surya sits out for Ishan Kishan. 

Rinku Singh and Jitesh Sharma have been influential with the bat for Team India. The Vidarbha-based batter gleaned in the last game that he played against Australia and scored runs when the team was in pressure. 

Rinku has been exceptional in his last few matches for the national team. He has perfected his role lower down the order and often steadied the ship when it was about to sink. The last T20I against Australia was no different where the southpaw piled up 46 off 29 balls and helped the team reach 174. 


All-rounder: Washington Sundar

Since the series is almost done and the results are out, India may rest Axar Patel and offer a chance to Washington Sundar. The Tamil Nadu spinner has been on and off the team due to reoccurring injuries. He has the skill set to be a technically firm batter and can also extract wickets in various phases of the game.


Bowlers: Deepak Chahar, Mukesh Kumar, Ravi Bishnoi and Avesh Khan

India are likely to include three pacers once again. Deepak Chahar and Avesh Khan are likely to retain their spot along with Mukesh Kumar. All three bowlers were brilliant with the execution and the think-tank should give them another opportunity to test the consistency. Bishnoi should be the primary spinner with the ball unless the management opts to rest him and include Axar which in turn adds the batting depth of the team.


India's Predicted XI against Australia

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Deepak Chahar, Mukesh Kumar, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan