Travis Head and...? Australia players who could be a massive threat to India in T20I series

Australia's Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh [Source: AFP]

After ODI series, India and Australia are set to clash again, this time in a five-match T20I series down under, beginning Wednesday, October 9, 2025. Notably, both sides have plenty to prove as the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 approaches.

India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, is on a dream run. They have been unbeaten in recent times, lifting the Asia Cup 2025. However, playing in Australia has never been easy for them. 

On the other side, Australia, led by Mitchell Marsh, are preparing to fight back hard on home soil. With players like Travis Head, Josh Hazlewood and Adam Zamp, they have enough firepower to trouble India.

So, as they gear up for the exciting series, let’s take a closer look at the five Australia players who could pose the biggest threat.

Mitchell Marsh

Australia captain Mitchell Marsh has been in phenomenal form throughout 2025. Marsh has emerged as one of the most destructive batters in the shortest format.

[Mitchell Marsh's T20I stats in 2025]

• In 2025, he has scored 367 runs in 11 innings, averaging 40.78 with a blistering strike rate of 164.57, including one century and two fifties. His recent form against New Zealand, where he smashed 197 runs in just 3 innings at a strike rate of 191.26, shows how devastating he can be.
• Notably, Marsh’s aggressive intent in the powerplay can immediately put Indian bowlers under pressure.  The Aussie opener is not afraid to take on both pace and spin, and his ability to finish games adds extra depth to Australia’s batting lineup. If India fail to dismiss him early, he could easily take the game away within a few overs.

Travis Head

Travis Head may not be in the best form recently, but that makes him even more dangerous. The left-hander thrives on proving critics wrong and he has a history of performing well against India.

Travis Head's T20I stats against India:

• Head’s natural attacking instincts and confidence at the top make him a nightmare for bowlers. In T20Is against India, he has scored 255 runs in 8 innings at a strike rate of 150.89. If he gets a few boundaries early and stays in for the first three overs of the powerplay, India could be in serious trouble.

Josh Hazlewood

Josh Hazlewood is one of those bowlers who doesn’t rely on flashy pace but instead on accuracy and seam movement. He is expected to play the first two matches and even that short appearance could have a major impact.

• In the IPL 2025, Hazlewood took 22 wickets in 12 matches for RCB, proving his adaptability to T20 conditions. Internationally, he has carried that form forward, claiming 6 wickets in 3 matches against South Africa and 3 wickets in 2 innings against New Zealand, maintaining an economy rate of just 6.13.
• What makes Hazlewood dangerous in Australia is his ability to extract extra bounce and movement with the new ball. Against India’s aggressive top order, he could strike early and create pressure. Even in the death overs, his disciplined bowling could restrict India’s big hitters like Suryakumar Yadav.

Adam Zampa

Adam Zampa remains Australia’s go-to spinner in white-ball cricket, and playing at home gives him an extra edge. His understanding of Australian pitches allows him to vary his pace and deceive batters effectively.

• In the recent ODI series against India, Zampa showed good rhythm by picking up 4 wickets in 2 matches. Across his career in Australia, he has taken 46 wickets in 33 T20 innings at an excellent average of 18.98.
• What makes Zampa particularly threatening to India is his success against right-handers. Players like Suryakumar Yadav and Abhishek Sharma, who love to attack spinners, may find it tough to read Zampa’s googlies and quicker ones. If he controls the middle overs, India’s momentum could easily slow down.

Tim David

Tim David is one of the most powerful hitters in world cricket today. Notably, he is known for his ability to clear boundaries with ease; he can change the course of a game in just a few overs.

• His recent form has been excellent. In the CPL 2025, he scored 212 runs in 10 innings, and against South Africa, he added 150 runs in 3 matches. His performance in IPL 2025 also shows his exceptional finishing skills, often turning losing positions into winning ones.
• However, Australia now prefers using him at No. 4 or 5, a position where he can both rebuild and accelerate. If India fail to dismiss him before the final five overs, he could unleash havoc with his power hitting, especially on Australia’s smaller grounds.

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