Australia vs India 2020-21: 1st T20I – Australia’s Predicted XI

After winning the ODI series by 2-1, Australia is set to play the T20I series against India. On Friday (December 4), the opening match of this series will be played in Canberra, where they have lost the last ODI match.

Australia will be missing the service of their batting mainstay David Warner while the availability of Mitchell Starc, who has picked up a back and rib nibble ahead of the last ODI, is still not confirmed. Also, Pat Cummins, who was rested in Canberra ODI, has been further given rest in the T20I series as a part of his workload management.

Here, let’s take a look at Australia’s playing XI

D’Arcy Short:

As David Warner has been ruled out of the series, D’Arcy Short is likely to open the innings for Australia in this series. He has represented Australia in 20 T20I matches and last played T20 international in 2019. But he had a stunning Big Bash League (BBL) 2020 where he also scored an unbeaten century against Scorchers. Although the 30-year-old can not fill the big shoes of Warner, he will be expected to give a good base to the team.

Aaron Finch (c):

Aaron Finch, who was a complete flop in the Indian Premier League, bamboozled Indian bowlers in the ODIs, scoring one century and two half-centuries. His prolific form is really going to trouble Indian bowlers.

Steven Smith:

Steven Smith scored back to back centuries in the first two matches to take the game home for Australia. With this, he also became the third Australian to score the fastest ODI century.

He is the game-changer and difference-maker.  The longer he stays, the more trouble India would have in the series.

Glenn Maxwell:

Glenn Maxwell’s power-hitting has demolished India’s bowling attack. In the ODI series, he scored back to back two half-centuries in the last two matches- one ended up in winning cause while the other went into vain. However, he is in great touch with the bat, which is a big positive for Australia. Apart from batting, his bowling has also been effective.

Marcus Stoinis:

The all-rounder was benched in the last ODIs after he sustained a side injury during the first match. Well, he is likely to get fit ahead of the series after being given considerable rest.

Alex Carey (wk):

Although Matthew Wade has returned to Australia’s squad, the team has gone with Alex Carey for the wicketkeeper-batsman position, who has been with the team in the past matches. He has good gloves while also gave a good contribution with the bat.

Moses Henriques:

Moises Henriques didn’t get the chance to bat, but he contributed excellently with the ball and his fielding. He took a stunning catch of Virat Kohli to take the team near to win while picked the wicket of Shreyas Iyers in his seven overs during the second ODI. He is likely going to play the T20I series.

Sean Abbott:

The fast bowling allrounder Sean Abbott is likely to replace Michell Marsh, who will be rested. He played the last ODI and picked the wicket of Shikhar Dhawan, but his one over against Jadeja went too expensive. However, overall, he had bowled good spells.

Ashton Agar:

In the last ODI against India, the spinner Ashton Agar picked two wickets while conceded only 44 runs. With the first T20I in the same venue, he will be looked up to give early breakthroughs.

Adam Zampa:

The leg-spinner Adam Zampa the wicket of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer during the ODI series but choked the middle-order of India not to allow them to score runs freely. He is surely a great asset to the team.

Josh Hazlewood:

Josh Hazlewood was the trouble-maker for Virat Kohli. He picked the wicket of the Indian captain on all the occasions in the ODI series. And he has become the only third bowler to do so against Kohli. He is surely going to be a danger man for India.