Gone are the days when the T20I series used to be overshadowed by the ODIs and Test series on a tour, and gone are the days when the shortest format used to feel a mere arm of ODI cricket.
Case in point is the upcoming five-match T20I series between India and Australia. Despite Australia winning the ODI series 2-1 and playing on their home turf, many would predict that the T20I series will go Indiaâ€s way.
India are the reigning T20 World Cup champions and have won all their T20I series since the 2024 T20 World Cup, including having an unbeaten campaign at the 2025 Asia Cup, which concluded with a thrilling last-over India vs Pakistan final.
IND vs AUS: When and where is the India vs Australia 1st T20I?
The India vs Australia 1st T20I will be played on Wednesday, October 29, at the Manuka Oval in Canberra. The match is scheduled to start at 1:45 PM IST/7:15 PM local/8:15 AM GMT.
This IND vs AUS T20I series is of great significance for the management and players of both teams as they build towards the T20 World Cup 2026 next February-March.
India won the Asia Cup in the UAE, and conditions in Australia are far different from those in Dubai. So expect a different bowling combination for India than the one that featured against Pakistan in the Asia Cup final.
IND vs AUS: Will Jasprit Bumrah play in T20I series against Australia?
Jasprit Bumrah, after being rested from the ODI series, will return and walk into the XI, but Hardik Pandya remains injured and will miss this tour. Nitish Kumar Reddy missed the third ODI due to a quadriceps injury. Captain Suryakumar Yadav said Reddy is “doing fine,†but it seems he will not be part of the XI in the 1st T20I.
Most of India’s playing XI for IND vs AUS 1st T20I against Australia is easily predictable. Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill will open, with skipper Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, and Rinku Singh behind them. Samson is expected to be the wicket-keeper, as he was in the Asia Cup, with Jitesh Sharma on the bench.
Axar Patel and Shivam Dube are likely to be the all-rounders. Bumrah will probably have Arshdeep Singh as his frontline pace partner. Given the conditions, India might not be able to include both Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy in the side, as Axar is almost a certain starter. Harshit Rana, who did well in the ODI series and showed some ability with the bat, could be pitted against Shivam Dube for one spot in the lineup.
The Indian team management will have plenty of conundrums for 2-3 spots in the lineup, leading to multiple potential combinations for the 1st T20I against Australia.
IND vs AUS 1st T20I: India Playing XI In Canberra – PredictedÂ
Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (wk), Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube/Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy/Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh
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