India cricket team have made three changes to their playing XI for the IND vs AUS 3rd T20I in Hobart on Sunday. Sanju Samson has been dropped from the line-up, making way for Jitesh Sharma to get his first game in a long time. Harshit Rana and Kuldeep Yadav have been benched too, paving way for Washington Sundar and Arshdeep Singh in the XI.
India playing XI for IND vs AUS 3rd T20I
Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Jitesh Sharma(w), Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah
On bench: Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson, Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh
Samson, who lost the opener’s role to Shubman at the start of Asia Cup 2025, has been benched after he played a couple of T20Is against Australia. In the second game, he was promoted up the order to number 3 where he managed to score just 2 runs. His exclusion means Jitesh will finally get the chance to play a T20I for the first time since January 2024.
India’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is Arshdeep finally has been included in the playing XI after warming the bench for the first two games. With his inclusion, India’s pace department looks formidable as he is set to pair with the lethal Bumrah.
Washington Sundar has been inlcuded in the side, resulting in Kuleep being dropped after a sub-par performance at the MCG. He will join forces with Varun and Axar to comprise of the spin unit for the visitors.
India vs Australia squads
Australia Squad: Mitchell Marsh(c), Travis Head, Josh Inglis(w), Tim David, Mitchell Owen, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Mahli Beardman, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Sean Abbott, Matthew Short, Josh Philippe, Tanveer Sangha
India Squad: Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson(w), Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Washington Sundar, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma
