India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir has made three pivotal changes to the playing XI for the third T20 International against Australia, held at the Bellerive Oval on Sunday. These adjustments underscore his ongoing efforts to experiment with team combinations in anticipation of next year’s T20 World Cup.
After winning the toss, India’s skipper Suryakumar Yadav chose to bowl first, aiming to secure a series lead, especially after the previous match in Canberra was washed out by rain. Yadav confirmed the return of Jitesh Sharma, Arshdeep Singh, and Washington Sundar to the lineup. Consequently, Sanju Samson, Harshit Rana, and Kuldeep Yadav were rested for this encounter.
At the toss, Suryakumar expressed confidence in his decision, stating, “We are going to bowl first. The ball should come nicely onto the bat later. We’re happy to take it one game at a time.”
Australia, under the captaincy of Mitchell Marsh, also announced a single change, with Sean Abbott replacing Josh Hazlewood. Marsh described the pitch as “a belter of a wicket” and emphasized their goal: “We want to start well and post a big total.”
This match marks India’s inaugural T20I appearance in Hobart, a stadium renowned for its high-scoring games. Interestingly, Australia boasts an undefeated record in five T20 internationals at this venue, having previously triumphed against strong teams like Pakistan, West Indies, and England.
Following a challenging performance for their batters and a defeat in Melbourne, India’s top order will face renewed scrutiny. Gambhir’s continuous experimentation, evident in decisions like Samson batting at number three and Harshit’s promotion over Shivam Dube at the MCG, highlights his ongoing quest for the team’s optimal balance.
The focus will also be on the young opening duo, Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma. Meanwhile, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, and Varun Chakaravarthy will anchor a spin-heavy middle order, a tactical choice considering the pitch is expected to favor aggressive stroke play.
Given Hobart’s notoriously batting-friendly pitch and both teams eager to build momentum, fans are in for another exciting run-fest. This match could also provide further insights into India’s evolving strategy for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
Australia’s Playing XI:
- Mitchell Marsh (Captain)
- Travis Head
- Josh Inglis (Wicketkeeper)
- Tim David
- Mitchell Owen
- Marcus Stoinis
- Matthew Short
- Sean Abbott
- Xavier Bartlett
- Nathan Ellis
- Matthew Kuhnemann
India’s Playing XI:
- Shubman Gill
- Abhishek Sharma
- Suryakumar Yadav (Captain)
- Tilak Varma
- Jitesh Sharma (Wicketkeeper)
- Shivam Dube
- Axar Patel
- Washington Sundar
- Arshdeep Singh
- Varun Chakaravarthy
- Jasprit Bumrah