India Playing XI vs AUS: IND vs AUS 1st T20 LIVE – Australia WINS Toss, India Batting 1st Rohit Sharma & Co begin a two-week marathon to play 6 T20s before the T20 World Cup. The 1st T20 has started and India’s confusion with its PLAYING XI is still continuing. Rohit has decided to go for Dinesh Karthik at the expense of Rishabh Pant. But more surprising is Jasprit Burmah’s omission after he was called ‘FIT to Play’. Umesh YADAV makes it to XI. Follow India vs Australia LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN.
Australia have won the toss and have opted to field
Australia (Playing XI): Aaron Finch(c), Cameron Green, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis, Tim David, Matthew Wade(w), Pat Cummins, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma(c), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik(w), Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Umesh Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal
Rohit Sharma: It is an opportunity to test ourselves. Every game is a big game to learn. We got to learn so much in the last six-eight months on how to win games. This series will be no different for us to express ourselves. Looking at what happened in the Asia Cup, we had a chance to reflect on where we went wrong.
This gives us an opportunity to correct ourselves as a group. Nothing changes in terms of our approach. Unfortunately there are some injuries in the squad. Bumrah is not playing, he will take a game’s break and probably come back in the second and the third game. We have Axar and Chahal. Pant misses out.
Aaron Finch: We’re going to have a bowl first. It is about building up to the World Cup, and about getting some information about our boys. Really excited. You expect to be tested, hopefully some dew comes out. The pitch looks hard and flat. We have a late change to our XI. [And he goes on to name half his XI]
India’s Selection Puzzles:
- Rishabh Pant or Dinesh Karthik?
- Deepak Hooda or Axar Patel?
- Deepak Chahar or Bhuvneshwar Kumar for 1st T20?
- Is there need to change opening combination?
India Playing XI vs AUS: T20 Marathon begins with SELECTION PUZZLE, Deepak Chahar likely to be back in Playing XI, Follow IND vs AUS 1st T20 LIVE Updates
Rishabh Pant or Dinesh Karthik? – After the No 4 dilemma during 2019 World Cup, Rishabh Pant vs Dinesh Karthik is currently the most debated topic of Indian cricket. Pant gives India a left-hand option. Karthik gives India a dedicated player at No 7 to take India to as many runs possible.
Karthik was recalled after his IPL heroics to play the specific role of finisher. While he has been moderately successful, Team India have hit a roadblock. To accommodate Karthik, India will be a bowler short. While that can be addressed in Indian conditions, it will not be enough in Australia.
Pant gets the nod as he is the sole left-hander batter in absence of Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel. But it’s his sluggish T20 form that creates a problem for the team management.
India Playing XI vs AUS: T20 Marathon begins with SELECTION PUZZLE, Deepak Chahar likely to be back in Playing XI, Follow IND vs AUS 1st T20 LIVE Updates
Deepak Hooda or Axar Patel? – A batting all-rounder and a bowling all-rounder but unlike Jadeja, they both don’t offer the exact same result. On paper, Axar may look like a like-for-like replacement. But Axar isn’t a proven batter at No 5 or 4 if needed. Hooda can do the job. But Rohit doesn’t trust him with the ball.
The other problem is if Hooda gets in, Pant may have to sit out as he isn’t a proven lower-order batter unlike Axar. But Axar’s inclusion also dents chances for Karthik.
India Playing XI vs AUS: Decision time for Rahul-Rohit
- If Rishabh Pant gets the backing as a leftie, can India fit Dinesh Karthik in Playing XI?
- Karthik’s inclusion removes a bowling option from line-up.
- With Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar guaranteed starter, it will be between Harshal and Arshdeep.
- Yuzvendra Chahal gets the nod being India’s premier spinner.
- But it will be a contest between Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel for the 2nd spinner’s role.
- Deepak Hooda may also continue as a backup and not get the chance in Playing XI.
- India’s top-order is unlikely to be rejigged just 6 games before T20 World Cup.
- However, it will be a test for KL Rahul to get out of his shell and Rohit-Dravid must convince him to do that.
Harshal Patel or Bhuvneshwar Kumar for 1st T20? – Bhuvneshwar Kumar has played the most T20s for India since the last WC. But it’s Bumrah and Deepak Chahar who haven’t had much game time. That could see Bhuvneshwar Kumar being rested for Harshal, Chahar and Bumrah or just two of them.
In India, the team can afford to go with two pacers and two spinners with Hardik Pandya playing the role of 5th bowler. But in Australia, India will need at least 3 seamers in line-up. The Australia and South Africa series will not be ideal to test the best bowling combination as conditions would be different.
However, Team India are of the idea that with the Australian summer approaching, the pitches will be on the drier side. That could see India using three seamers and two spinners in the Playing XI including Hardik. If that is the case, India may choose to go ahead with Axar Patel or Ravichandran Ashwin in place of Dinesh Karthik.
India Playing XI vs AUS 1st T20:
- Rohit Sharma (C)
- KL Rahul (VC)
- Virat Kohli
- Suryakumar Yadav
- Rishabh Pant (WK)
- Hardik Pandya
- Axar Patel/R Ashwin
- Harshal Patel
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Deepak Chahar/ Bhuvneshwar Kumar
- Yuzvendra Chahal
India Squad for Australia T20Is: Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dinesh Karthik (WK), Hardik Pandya, R. Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Deepak Chahar, Jasprit Bumrah.
India Playing XI vs AUS: T20 Marathon begins with SELECTION PUZZLE, Deepak Chahar likely to be back in Playing XI, Follow IND vs AUS 1st T20 LIVE Updates
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