17:28 hrs IST
India beat Australia by 11 runs
That’s the match. India have beaten Australia by 11 runs to take a 1-0 win. Australia, chasing 162, finish on 150/7. Chahal and Natarajan the stars with the ball finishing with 3/25 and 3/30 respectively.
17:24 hrs IST
Last over coming up. Australia need 27
27 to win, 26 to tie. Mohammed Shami to bowl the final over. Three runs taken off the first ball. Abbott and Swepson the batsmen.
17:20 hrs IST
BOWLED HIM!
Natarajan picks up his third, cleans up Mitchell Starc for 1. Australia 7 down for 127 and are all over the place. 34 needed off eight balls. Surely, this has to be India’s game from here.
17:15 hrs IST
OUT! Another one down
Deepak Chahar gets Moises Henriques out LBW. Australia 126/6. That wicket came out of nowhere. Walked across as the ball rapped him on the pads. The bowler did not appeal at all. It was only KL Rahul who went up but it was enough for the umpire to raise his fingers. Henriques took the review but to no avail. Three dots and Australia are six down.
17:10 hrs IST
{{/usCountry}}17:10 hrs IST
{{/usCountry}}OUT! Third strike for Chahal
He strikes off the last ball of his final over. Chahal bowls a googly outside off stump. Matthew Wade’s eyes open up and he slaps the ball on the leg side but without much timing. Australia lose their fifth wicket for 122, leaving them with 40 to get in the last three overs.
17:05 hrs IST
Sundar bowls out
And it’s been a magnificent spell from the off-spinner. He gives away just three runs from his final over to finish with 0/16 off four overs. No wickets but he’s done the job for his captain.
17:00 hrs IST
OUT! Natarajan gets his second
D Arcy Short departs now. Natarajan gets him out caught at long on. A cross-seam delivery and it’s a big wicket for India. Australia 113/4 in 15 overs.
16:58 hrs IST
Overthrows! Five runs to Australia
Manish Pandey misses with a direct hit as Australia pinch a single. What’s worse for India is that Sanju Samson fails to back up and misfields, resulting in five overthrows. Kohli doesn’t say much. Well, not that he has too many options given the catch he dropped early on.
16:56 hrs IST
Natarajan almost traps Henriques
A slower ball from Nataraja as he rolls his finger. More like an off-cutter and it almost works for him and India. Henriques hits the ball back and just gets it enough to scoop it over the bowler’s head. Interesting period approaching. Australia 106/3, need 56 off 34 balls.
16:52 hrs IST
Chahal to Henriques: FOUR
Nothing much the diving fielder at point could do to stop that one. Henriques enjoying a good run with the bat, here and in the previous ODI. No reason why Australia should lose this game from here.
16:50 hrs IST
Australia need 67 off 42 balls
While such an equation is easily gettable in T20 cricket, stranger things have happened in T20s. D Arcy Short is still there, batting on 32 off 34, and partnering him is Moises Henriques.
16:46 hrs IST
Shami to Henriques: SIX
Mohammed Shami returns but it isn’t the start he or India would have hoped for. Henriques positions himself and smashes a flat six towards deep square leg. Shami conceding runs at over 11 an over.
16:44 hrs IST
Sundar returns
With wickets falling, Kohli has turned to Sundar hoping for a few tight overs from the off-spinner. With the required rate above 9.2, if Sundar can bowl out his two overs and finish well, India will put pressure on Australia.
16:40 hrs IST
What a review!
Smart review by Kohli too - overturned to hand Natarajan his first T20I wicket #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/tLQrGi5qAk— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 4, 2020
16:38 hrs IST
OUT! Maxwell goes
And India are right back in this contest. Natarajan gets the big wicket of Glenn Maxwell, who is out for 2. Brilliant review taken by Kohli. It looked plumb to the real eye but the umpire turned it down. Replay showed three reds and it’s a third wicket down for Australia for 75.
16:35 hrs IST
Outside edge, falls short
Suddenly, it’s all happening, Catches dropped, catches taken, close chances. India are making all sorts of noises. A nervy couple of deliveries for Glenn Maxwell, who plays an aerial shot that lands in no man’s land and offers an outside edge that falls just short of KL Rahul.
16:32 IST
OUT! Chahal picks up another
Second wicket for Chahal, who now has Steve Smith out caught in the deep. He goes for 12. Australia 72/2 in 9.5 overs.Smith tried to go led side and Samson, running in towards the ball, dives to complete a brilliant catch at deep midwicket. Two wickets in quick succession for India.
16:30 hrs IST
Chahal to Smith: SIX
Smith said something to himself after that miss off the previous ball. Whatever the pep talk was, paid off as the batsman clubs a six of the next ball. Australia 68/1 after 9 overs.
16:28 hrs IST
Chahal foxes Smith
The knuckle ball from Deepak Chahal and Smith is beaten all ends up. The former Aussie captain looked to after it hard but missed it altogether.
16:26 hrs IST
In unusual circumstances...
Yuzvendra Chahal replaces Ravindra Jadeja on field as concussion substitute#INDvAUS https://t.co/5pO3DeYbOj— HT Sports (@HTSportsNews) December 4, 2020
16:22 hrs IST
OUT! A wicket at last for India
Chahal with the wicket as he gets Aaron Finch. Australia 56/1 in 7.4 overs. Loopy delivery and Finch went for the big one. Doesn’t time it well and Hardik Pandya takes a fine catch, India’s first of the match.
16:20 hrs IST
Concussion substitute Chahal comes on
Right then! In a movie world, Yuzvendra Chahal comes on and bags a five-for, but you won’t back him to do it after his performance in the first two ODIs. Moreover, how do you prepare to bowl when you haven’t had a warm up or any kind of preparation?
16:18 hrs IST
DROPPED AGAIN! Kohli is the culprit here
Oh dear! Poor, poor show from Virat Kohli. Puts down a sitter. The ball went all the way up as Short tried to swat the ball, but the ball came off his outside edge and went in the air. Kohli at cover set himself up for the catch but put it down when it mattered the most. Australia 54/0 after 7 overs.
16:14 hrs IST
DROPPED
Manish Pandey puts down Aaron Finch at point. Gets there in time, and brings out both hands to it. Almost had the ball before it popped out and gives Finch a lifeline. Sloppy from India
16:10 hrs IST
FIFTY up for Australia
Inside edge and Finch gets a lucky boundary. 50 comes up for Australia in just 5.5 overs, inside the Powerplay. Finch and Short with the kind of start they hoped to get. India still in search of their first wicket. Finch 33 off 22.
16:08 hrs IST
Can Natarajan provide breakthrough for India?
He was the man who got Australia’s first wicket in the final ODI, and with India desperately needing a wicket here, Virat Kohli has turned to T Natarajan.
16:06 hrs IST
Flicked for SIX
On the legs and a brilliant pick up short from Aaron Finch gets him a six. He’s brought his ODI form in these T20Is it seems. Tremendous timing. Australia are running away with this game. Australia 45/0 after five overs.
16:04 hrs IST
Shami to Finch: FOUR
Short again and the Australia captain gives himself room to time a magnificent boundary. They’re racing away in this chase. Brisk start so far. Shami not getting any movement and Finch is making the most of it.
16:02 hrs IST
Finch misses a full toss...
An opportunity missed by Finch, who misses flicking a full toss. However, Short begins Sundar’s second over with a crisp cover drive that gets him a boundary, his fourth of the innings. Australia 33/0 after 4 overs.
16:00 hrs IST
Chahal on as concussion substitute for Jadeja
So turns out Yuzvendra Chahal is not only the substitute for Jadeja, but a concussion substitute. Jadeja was hit on the helmet while batting and although it’s a hamstring injury that’s currently preventing him from taking the field, India seems to have used the blow to head to get Chahal on as concussion substitute. Australia coach Justin Langer is not impressed.
15:58 hrs IST
Shami to Short: FOUR, FOUR
Width on offer and Short obliges. A classic square cut brings up his second boundary. Comes right off the middle of the bat. Next ball, follows it with another boundary. This time it’s fuller from Shami and he leans into the drive to get a four through the off side.
15:56 hrs IST
Two off Sundar’s first over
Aaron Finch doesn’t quite penetrate the gap on the off side. Says to himself “Are you kidding me,’ which gets caught up loud and clear in the stump mic. Australia 16/0 after 2 overs
15:54 hrs IST
Misfield! Dhawan the culprit
What could have been just a single ends up in a couple of runs for Finch. More importantly, breaks the momentum Sundar had attained in the first three balls.
15:52 hrs IST
Sundar given the new ball
Sundar did it for RCB in the IPL, bowling tight line and length in the Powerplay, Hence, it’s no surprise that Virat Kohli has gone with the off-spinner. So far, he’s bowled three dots to Finch.
15:50 hrs IST
Third FOUR of the over
After Finch’s two boundaries, D Arcy Short drills Deepak Chahar down the ground for a boundary. Australia have gotten off to a fine start, getting 14 runs off the first over.
15:48 hrs IST
Back to back FOURS for Finch
There’s swing on offer but Aaron Finch has been in that kind of form in this tour so far. Back to back boundaries and Australia are away in their chase. One through the legs and the other one through off.
15:45 hrs IST
Australia’s chase begins!
Aaron Finch and Darcy Short begins Australia’s chase. Deepak Chahar into the attack for India. CHASE IS ON!
15:40 hrs IST
Stats attack
This is now the highest score for an Indian batsman batting at #7 or below in T20Is surpassing MS Dhoni’s 38(18) vs Eng at the Wankhede in 2012
15:26 hrs IST
End of innings, India finish on 161/7
A fine recovery from the Indian team, one would believe. From 92/5, they finish strong to post 161/7, once again thanks to an unbeaten 44 off 23 balls from Ravindra Jadeja.
15:24 hrs IST
Starc to Jadeja - FOUR, SIX
This man is on fire. After the wicket, Jadeja smashes Starc down the ground for a four, but the next shot is what stands out. He lines himself up and drills the ball for a six over midwicket.
15:22 hrs IST
OUT! Starc gets Sundar
A low full toss bowled at over 145 clicks. Sundar tries to get elevation behind that ball but is out caught at long on. Fortunately for India, the batsmen change ends.
15:18 hrs IST
Jadeja goes SIX, FOUR, FOUR
It’s his favourite side of the boundary, on the legs. Hazlewood misses his length slightly and Jadeja hammers the ball for a six. Follows it with back to back boundaries. 23 off that over and suddenly, the 150 is up for India with one over to go.
15:15 hrs IST
Injury scare for Jadeja?
The last thing that India needed at this point. Ravindra Jadeja seems to have done something to his right leg. Is it a hamstring? Looks like it. The game has been halted and the physios are having a look at him.
15:12 hrs IST
No ball! Hazlewood oversteps
Jadeja misses. It’s a big boundary and Jadeja mistimes the free hit. It’ll just be a couple of runs. But the good thing is that eigh runs have come off the over and only three balls bowled. If India are to finish well, Jadeja will be key.
15:10 hrs IST
Hazlewood to Jadeja: FOUR
Hazlewood bowls it full and Jadeja crashes the ball through the off-side, piercing the gap brilliantly to get a boundary.
15:06 hrs IST
Inside edge for FOUR
Starc bowls it full and Sundar gets the inner edge of his bat. The ball races towards the fine leg boundary. A much needed four for India, who reach 127/6. Two overs remain
15:04 hrs IST
Starc returns!
Australia going for the killer blows now. Starc returns in the attack, hoping to wrap things up for India. Washington Sundar to face the music.
15:02 hrs IST
OUT! Pandya perishes
Out caught at long off. Once again, Pandya fails to get his timing right and top edges the ball to Steve Smith, who takes the catch comfortably. Henriques picks up his third wicket of the match. Three big wickets, all at crucial stages. India 115/6 with three overs remaining.
15:00 hrs IST
Almost another wicket
A lifeline for Pandya. He looked like hitting another six but the timing wasn’t quite there. Abbott dives at long on to parry the ball back on the ground and save a six.
14:58 hrs IST
Henriques to Pandya: SIX
Pandya goes big and he connects it well to take the ball sailing over long on. He’s flexing his muscles after that shot. Could this be a sign of what’s to come? Has to be now.
14:56 hrs IST
16 overs gone, what can India conjure?
Still, just seven off the over. India 104/5. Surely, in these last four overs, India need to go big. This is ideal template for Hardik Pandya. He’s done it for Mumbai Indians several times this season itself.
14:54 hrs IST
The Big One!
Henriques' spell gets better and better - he's got two wickets now!
Live #AUSvIND: https://t.co/OuCGDkVSMq pic.twitter.com/rIoLfLqQKD— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 4, 2020
14:50 hrs IST
Five overs remain
The 100 comes up for India in 15/3 overs. With four and a half overs left. India would be eyeing at least 150 to given themselves a total to defend.
14:50 hrs IST
Can Pandya, Jadeja save India the blushes again?
They were the heroes in the final ODI, but Pandya and Jadeja have been tasked with doing it again - to take India out of trouble. On Wednesday, India were 152/5 when the two joined hands. Today, India are 92/5, but not too many overs ramain.
14:48 hrs IST
Here’s what’s transpired in the last 17 balls
Six runs have been scored by India and three wickets taken by Australia in the last 2.5 overs.
14:46 hrs IST
OUT! Rahul holes out
And India are in trouble at 92/5. Another variation in pace from the Aussie bowlers and India have lost another wicket. Rahul tries to go big but is unable to clear the boundary and holes out at long-on.
14:44 hrs IST
Pandya power to rescue India again?
With two 90-plus scores, Hardik Pandya seems to have warmed up well for the T20Is. Can he provide one more defining innings for India. The visitors really need it.
14:40 hrs IST
How about that?
Not Mitch Swepson's greatest-ever ball, but maybe his biggest-ever wicket - no wonder he's smiling! 😁 #OhWhatAFeeling@Toyota_Aus | #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/jFA78rd1uT— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 4, 2020
14:36 hrs IST
OUT! Another one goes
Extra bounce does the trick for Australia as Adam Zampa gets the wicket of Manish Pandey. Just a double for the middle-order batsman as he fails to read the ball and edges the ball to a diving short third man. India 91/4 after 13 overs.
14:32 hrs IST
OUT! Samson goes
Just what we were talking about. Samson goes hard after the ball and is out caught by Swepson at covers. India 86/3 in 11.1 overs. Slight change in pace from Henriques and it foxes Samson. Caught the lower end of the bat and failed to get elevation behind that shot.
14:30 hrs IST
FIFTY for Rahul
The most in-form batsman in this Indian team, KL Rahul completes his half-century. He gets there off 37 balls and althought it may be a little slow, he has always batted long after giving himself time. Sharp running between the wickets between him and Samson. India 86/2 after 11 overs.
14:28 hrs IST
FOUR! What a shot
Wow! Samson looking good. Gives himself room and literally swats the ball over the infield towards the sweeper cover boundary. Stunning blow off Abbott.
14:26 hrs IST
Half way through the innings
10 overs gone and India are 75/2. They’ve scored at a healthy rate of 7.5 runs an over so far. And as they gear up for the next 10 overs, they would want to go big considering they’ve lost just two wickets.
14:24 hrs IST
Samson looking in good nick
He’s only moved to 12 off 8 balls but the way Sanju Samson is timing the ball, he looks like a million bucks. But can he carry on is the big question. Often in the past, Samson has been let down by rush of adrenaline and playing T20 cricket, the chances of it increases as it is. Having said that, he is looking to rotate strike, which are positive signs.
14:22 hrs IST
Rahul pulls, four more
Swepson has been on the shorter side mostly in his spell and the Indian batsmen are feeding on it. Rahul hammers a powerful four towards deep midwicket. His fifth four of the innings. India 68/2 after nine overs.
14:20 hrs IST
SIX! Samson up and away
Looks like our question has been answered. Short ball from Swepson and Samson rocks back to bring out a thunderous pull shot that takes the ball into the stands. T20 form visible for Samson. Can he keep going on from here though?
14:18 hrs IST
What can Sanju Samson offer
He’s been talked about so much in the Indian cricket circuit. Mostly, he’s disappointed more than he’s thrilled in India colours. Can he produce a memorable knock today? India 56/2 after 8 overs
14:16 hrs IST
FIFTY up for India
Rahul and Samson complete a sharp two as India bring up their fifty after seven overs.
14:14 hrs IST
OUT! Big wicket for India as Kohli departs
Soft dismissal for the India captain. Trying to hit the ball but the ball takes the outside edge and spoons up in the air for leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson to complete the catch. He looks surprised. Perhaps the ball stopped on him maybe?
14:12 hrs IST
Another FOUR for Rahul
Another short ball from Mitchell Swepson and Rahul makes the most of it. Plunders the ball towards midwicket for another four. He’s looking in brilliant nick. This is KL Rahul the opener for you.
14:10 hrs IST
Abbott to Rahul: SIX
If the previous one didn’t come off the middle, this one surely has. Good length ball from Abbott but Rahul slogs the ball over midwicket for India’s first six of the innings. Six overs gone, India 42/1
14:06 hrs IST
Abbott to Rahul: FOUR
Outside edge and it’s a four! Rahul rides his luck. On the pads and Rahul tried to flick the ball on the leg-side, but the ball took the outside edge and flew towards the vacant third man region for a four.
14:02 hrs IST
Zampa to Rahul: FOUR
Leg-spinner Adam Zampa comes into the attack and he’s been welcomes with a boundary from KL Rahul. Drives him through the covers imperiously.
14:00 hrs IST
FOUR! Kohli off the mark
Virat Kohli sets himself up and bludgeons the ball from Josh Hazlewood towards midwicket for his first boundary. The India captain is away. India 21/1 after 4 overs.
13:54 hrs IST
OUT! India lose Dhawan
BOOM! Dhawan’s off stump goes for a twirl. Starc gets it full and bang on target. It was fired at 145 clicks and Dhawan just too late to bring his bat down. What a start for Australia as Starc sends Dhawan packing. India 11/1 after 3 overs. In walks Virat Kohli. India 13/1 after 3 overs
13:52 hrs IST
Starc to Rahul: FOUR
The first boundary of the innings and it comes off the bat of KL Rahul. Full and outside off. Rahul sees the width and goes after it, albeit it doesn’t come off the middle of bat.
13:50 hrs IST
Hazlewood on the money
A good couple of overs up front from Australia’s pacers Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc Cummins. Rahul, Dhawan being tested early on. India 6/0 after 2 overs
13:48 hrs IST
Hazlewood to Dhawan
Dhawan cuts the ball to point but no run taken. Gets off the mark the next ball. Rahul tried to pull the next ball but manages a single after the ball comes off his thigh pad.
13:45 hrs IST
Tight start by Australia
Just four runs off the first over, all belonging to KL Rahul in that over as India reach 4/1 after 1.
13:42 hrs IST
Starc finds his line
Unlike the ODIs, Mitchell Starc has been on the money in the four balls that he’s bowled so far. There’s just a hint of swing but the line has been accurate.
13:40 hrs IST
India off the mark
Starc begins with a dot ball but KL Rahul drives the second ball for a couple of runs to get himself and India off the mark. It’ll be interesting to see Rahul back as an Indian opener.
13:38 hrs IST
It’s time! Dhawan and Rahul to open
Sunil Gavaskar’s wish has come true. What better names to open the batting for India than the two leading scorers of IPL 2020. Fine record these two have. Mitchell Starc is back and is ready to bowl the first over.
13:34 hrs IST
What Finch said after the toss
“Been quite a big buildup anyway. Was expected to be at this time. Not much changes. Short opens the batting, Wade at three. Phenomenal design, grateful to be able to wear it (the indigenous kit).”
13:30 hrs IST
No Bumrah. Is that a call that’ll be debated
The big surprise is that Jasprit Bumrah is not playing today’s game. Is he injured, or being rested? We are hearing that it’s the latter. With the big Test series looming ahead, the management has rested Bumrah. However, was there a need to rest the pacer right after he rediscovered his mojo in the previous game, will be debated.
13:26 hrs IST
Virat Kohli at toss
“Great chance to have a look at a few guys. Have managed workloads of the bowlers nicely so far. We’ve been playing good T20 cricket, we just have to continue that. Natarajan is making his debut today. Looked composed in the third ODI. There was a reason I went to him.”
13:22 hrs IST
Australia’s Playing XI
1 D Arcy Short, 2 Aaron Finch(c), 3 Matthew Wade(w), 4 Steve Smith, 5 Glenn Maxwell, 6 Moises Henriques, 7 Mitch Swepson, 8 Sean Abbott, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Adam Zampa, 11 Josh Hazlewood
13:18 hrs IST
India’s Playing XI
1 Shikhar Dhawan, 2 KL Rahul(w), 3 Virat Kohli(c), 4 Manish Pandey, 5 Sanju Samson, 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Washington Sundar, 9 Deepak Chahar, 10 Mohammed Shami, 11 T Natarajan
13:14 hrs IST
After ODI debut, Natarajan to play first T20I
He made his India debut on Wednesday, and T Natarajan’s memorable week continues as he becomes the latest India player to play T20 cricket. Also included in India’s XI is are Sanju Samson and Washington Sundar. Also, Manish Pandey gets a game in place of Shreyas Iyer.
13:10 hrs IST
TOSS: Finch wins, Australia bowl
Australia have won the toss and opted to bowl against India at the Manuka Oval.
13:02 hrs IST
Will Rahul conquer Australia demons?
KL Rahul has a healthy average of 46.65 in T20Is, but when it comes to Australia, it drops down to 31. In fact, it’s the lowest average among seven teams which included West Indies, New Zealand, England, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh and Australia
12:55 hrs IST
Some interesting nuggets
4: Sixes A Finch needs to complete 100 T20I sixes, he would be the 1st AUS to reach this landmark and 6th overall after Rohit Sharma, Martin Guptill, Eoin Morgan, C Munro, and C Gayle
300: Finch will be playing his 300th T20 game, if he takes the field in the 1st T20I vs IND.
0: India has not lost a T20I in 2020, they have play 7 T20Is which produces a result, won 5 and 2 ended in Tie which they won in super over.
3: More sixes Dhawan needs to complete 50 T20I sixes.
3: sixes V Kohli needs to complete 300 T20 sixes
88: runs S Dhawan needs to complete 8000 T20 runs.
12:50 hrs IST
Murali Karthik’s Probable India XI
1 Shikhar Dhawan, 2 KL Rahul (WK), 3 Virat Kohli (Capt), 4 Shreyas Iyer, 5 Hardik Pandya, 6 Ravindra Jadeja, 7 Washington Sundar, 8 Deepak Chahar, 9 T Natarajan, 10 Yuzvendra Chahal, 11 Jasprit Bumrah
12:45 hrs IST
Ashton Agar out of today’s game
Eric Holland suggests that Ashton Agar’s calf strain is serious enough to rule him out of today’s game. In fact, the entire series. In all likelihood. Matthew Wade will open the batting with Aaron Finch. He was the first one seen hitting the ground running today.
12:40 hrs IST
Manjrekar’s Predicted XI for 1st T20I
1 Shikhar Dhawan, 2 KL Rahul (WK), 3 Virat Kohli (Capt), 4 Shreyas Iyer, 5 Hardik Pandya, 6 Ravindra Jadeja, 7 Washington Sundar, 8 Deepak Chahar, 9 Mohammed Shami, 10 Yuzvendra Chahal , 11 Jasprit Bumrah
12:33 hrs IST
Time for KL Rahul stand up and deliver
KL Rahul had a relatively quiet ODIs, with just one half-century. He is now one of the few Indian cricketers with close to 1500 runs in T20Is at an impressive average of 45.65 with the SR of 146.10. In 2020, Rahul is only 7 runs behind from completing 1000 T20 runs, which only Babar Azam has achieved it so far this year.
12:26 hrs IST
Is leaving Cummins out the right call? Not as per Brett Lee
Keeping the workload management of Australia’s pacers in mind, Australia decided to rest Pat Cummins for the third ODI and the three T20Is. The team management may see logic behind this decision but one who doesn’t agree with it is former Australia quick Brett Lee. He feels players shouldn’t be tired after playing just two games. Click here to find out what he said.
12:19 hrs IST
Who’s excited for this jersey?
The long-sleeve version of Australia's Indigenous T20 kit 😍😍 pic.twitter.com/cBtqYGXAR5— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 30, 2020
12:12 hrs IST
Can Maxwell take his ODI form in T20Is?
With 167 runs from three matches, including three fifties, Glenn Maxwell has put the disappointment of the IPL 2020 on the backburner and roared back to form in Australia jersey. With some big names away from the XI, Maxwell’s role become all the more important. His threat promises to loom large on India
12:05 hrs IST
Will India’s batting order change?
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar feels KL Rahul should open for India, given the imperious form he’s shown in the IPL, but Mayank Agarwal hasn’t been far in terms of form. Will India take a gamble and switch their opening pair? What if it’s Rahul and Dhawan, who open the batting for India? The two highest run-scorers in IPL 2020
11:58 hrs IST
Australia without big guns
Ahead of the T20Is, they have some voids to fill. There is no David Warner and Pat Cummins. Mitchell Starc picked up a niggle in his back and Ashton Agar seemed to have hurt his calf. India on the other hand appear a fully strengthened unit.
11:51 hrs IST
IPL form should help India’s batsmen
KL Rahul, with 670 runs, won the Orange Cap. Shikhar Dhawan hit 618 runs and was the second-leading run-getter in the tournament. Mayank Agarwal: 424 runs from 11 matches, Shreyas Iyer: 519 runs from 17 games, Virat Kohli: 466 runs from 15 games. If those numbers aren’t a testament to the kind of T20 form India’s batsmen are in, what is?
11:44 hrs IST
India in T20Is this year
vs Sri Lanka, Indore: WON by 7 wickets
vs Sri Lanka, Pune: WON by 78 runs
vs New Zealand, Auckland: WON by 6 wickets
vs New Zealand, Auckland: WON by 7 wickets
vs New Zealand, Hamilton: WON in Super Over
11:37 hrs IST
Can India bounce back?
India ended the ODI series with an impressive win, but at the end of the day, it was another ODI series defeat for Virat Kohli and his team. But with most of the players entering the T20I leg on the back of some wonderful performances in the IPL, it is India’s chance to square things up. Remember, India are 5-0 in T20Is this year, having not lost a single game in the format. Can the juggernaut continue against a formidable Australian unit?
11:30 hrs IST
India vs Australia 1st T20I - LIVE!
India vs Australia - One more time. This time in T20 cricket, a format both teams will be a bit more suited to given the amount of IPL cricket they’ve recently played. In the ODIs, both teams looked slightly stiff in the field, with a few uncharacteristics drops and lapses on the field, but with the return of T20Is, India and Australia will begin their preparations for the big one that lies ahead next year - The 2021 T20 World Cup in India. With the ODIs behind us, which Australia won 2-1, India will be eager to level the limited-overs leg before the almighty Border-Gavaskar Trophy begins. The last time India and Australia played a T20I bilateral series Down Under, it ended in a 1-1 draw. We are likely to have a winner this time around.