Brisbane, Nov 8 (NationPress) Matthew Hayden, the former Australian opener, believes that India has gathered crucial insights about the Mitchell Marsh-led side after their recent victory in the T20I series, which ended with a 2-1 scoreline. The series concluded with the fifth and final match being abandoned due to rain at The Gabba on Saturday.

"India will undoubtedly feel confident about their options. They have gained significant knowledge about their adversaries, particularly Australia, who are poised to be formidable contenders in the upcoming World Cup. This series has been educational for both squads.

"India seems to be figuring out how to handle the off-pace bowling that is common in international cricket, striking a balance between supporting their power hitters and crafting strategies to manage totals effectively—a tactic not usually linked with Australia," Hayden remarked on JioStar.

He also highlighted the depth of India's bowling attack and the explosive potential of their top order, even in the absence of wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson. "Kudos to India for swiftly adapting to these pitches and establishing a solid rhythm and game plan in this intense format, which is arguably more challenging than longer formats due to the high-pressure nature of each delivery.

"Suryakumar Yadav has been a consistent performer at the top of the order, and while he aims to elevate his game further ahead of the World Cup, the bowling unit is well-rounded. Their pace attack is comprehensive, and the spin bowlers contribute not only with the ball but also in batting and fielding.

"The top order has shown destructive potential, even with uncertainties like the absence of Sanju Samson. Overall, India is in a strong position with promising challenges to address," Hayden elaborated.

Shifting his focus to Australia’s batting lineup, Hayden noted that the team is still in search of a consistent rhythm, particularly on subcontinental pitches. "The context is quite different now compared to Australia's past when we had multiple high-quality left-handers, especially at the top of the order.

"They would ideally want to keep Travis Head at the top, despite some concerns about his performance against spin, even at the test level, as demonstrated during the Sri Lanka tour where he opened instead of Sam Konstas. Whether Head might transition to the middle order remains unclear. However, Australia possesses enough firepower in their lineup.

"Tim David has handled pressure admirably, demonstrating versatility to bat in various positions. Batting at number four, he adds flexibility and a power element. Mitchell Marsh, like his teammates, faces questions about his adaptability against spin from both right and left-handers. This team exhibited struggles during their tour in India—where the pitches offered minimal turn—struggling to find a consistent rhythm and strategy.

Hayden concluded by discussing the significance of the powerplay phase in T20 cricket. "We frequently stress the importance of the first six overs, even during pre-match talks. The key question often revolves around how many runs teams can accumulate in this period, making it a vital segment of the game.

"In settings like those offshore and at The Gabba, which are generally favorable for batting, pushing the boundaries, as India did, can create opportunities. If those opportunities are squandered, as was the case for Australia today, a team can quickly find itself struggling to catch up.

"It’s a delicate balance to maintain. Nevertheless, in subcontinental conditions, everyone recognizes the need to establish a solid foundation in the first six overs, as that’s when the game truly begins to accelerate," he concluded.