Will India Level the Series Against Australia with New Players?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- India has made strategic changes to their playing XI.
- Australia is looking to extend their lead in the series.
- The pitch conditions favor batting.
- Both teams are eager for a high-scoring contest.
- The match marks India's first T20I in Hobart.
Hobart, Nov 2 (NationPress) Jitesh Sharma, Arshdeep Singh, and Washington Sundar have been added to India’s playing eleven as captain Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and chose to bowl first in the third T20I against Australia at Bellerive Oval on Sunday.
India is aiming for a series-tying victory in what marks their first-ever T20I match in Hobart. Meanwhile, Australia is looking to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. After winning the toss, Suryakumar announced that Jitesh, Arshdeep, and Washington have replaced Sanju Samson, Harshit Rana, and Kuldeep Yadav in the lineup.
“The ball will come on nicely to the bat in the second innings. Happy to take it one game at a time,” he explained.
Australia's captain Mitchell Marsh noted that seamer Sean Abbott will step in for Josh Hazlewood. Hazlewood has been rested for the remainder of the series to focus on preparations for the Ashes. Abbott recently recorded impressive figures of 3-25 in four overs during his last T20I against New Zealand at Mount Maunganui.
This change means that Glenn Maxwell will have to wait for his return to the Australian team after recovering from a wrist injury. “It's an excellent wicket. We want to start strong and set a substantial total,” he said.
Former Australian captain Aaron Finch described the pitch as offering “beautiful batting conditions.” With warm, windy weather and small boundary dimensions, Finch predicts a high-scoring match.
Playing XIs
India: Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Tilak Varma, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Jasprit Bumrah
Australia: Mitchell Marsh (captain), Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Tim David, Mitchell Owen, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Short, Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, and Matthew Kuhnemann