Image Credit- BCCI
This five-match T20I series between Australia and
India will begin just four days after Australia defeated India in the ODI World
Cup final. The series is a part of the preparation for the USA and Caribbean
T20 World Cup, which is now six months away. Here are some things to be aware
of.
SKY back in his habitat
With 106 runs at an average of 17.66 during a
lacklustre ODI World Cup, Suryakumar Yadav will be returning to his preferred
format. Despite being ranked as the top T20I batsman by the ICC, Australia
revealed a flaw in his style during Sunday’s final. They put him to the test
with slower bouncers that had a well placed leg and a deep third. They may
stick to the idea in the Twenty20 Internationals.
The added duty of captaining the team would fall to
Suryakumar when Hardik Pandya is not there. This is his first time leading at
the international level; he has captained Mumbai 36 times in domestic cricket
across all formats and the Mumbai Indians once in the IPL. It must be seen if
that will change his batting style.
Head’s potential audition
The IPL franchises will be watching for possible
purchases for the December 19 mini-auction while the two sides concentrate on
this series and the build-up to the T20 World Cup. Travis Head is a player that
needs to be kept a close eye on by all.
Head participated in the IPL in the past, having
played 10 games for Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2016 and 2017. He was named
Player of the Match in both the semi-final and final of the ODI World Cup.
Head, who batted largely in the middle order, had respectable but unremarkable
results.
But ever since his comeback to the Australia national
side last year, he has been a different gravy opening the innings in ODIs and,
of course, across formats. He has played only three T20Is so far this year but
in one of those games, he smashed 91 off 48 against South Africa. A couple of
similar knocks and he could be in for a big payday come the auction.
Wade’s test
Matthew Wade will captain Australia in this series as
Mitchell Marsh is rested. He is unsure, though, if he would start as
wicketkeeper for the World Cup in 2019.
Alex Carey has already been replaced by Josh Inglis in
the ODI team. Wade warmed the bench while Inglis played all three games in
Australia’s most recent Twenty20 International series against South Africa.
Wade, however, will have the chance to further his argument because he is the
series captain and will be expected to participate in all five games.
Samson and Chahal’s end of the road?
In the T20I side, Sanju Samson has never had a
prolonged stint. In addition, he hasn’t been able to take full use of the
opportunities that have come his way. When India toured the USA and the West
Indies earlier this year, he participated in all five Twenty20 Internationals.
During his three innings, he amassed 32 runs at a 114.28 strike rate. With just
one half-century in 21 innings, he has a T20I average of 19.68 overall.
Additionally, Yuzvendra Chahal appears to have lost
the support of the selectors. He was left off of the T20I team as well, after
his exclusion from the ODI World Cup roster. Chahal took five wickets in as
many Twenty20 Internationals against the West Indies at an economy of 9.05.
Kuldeep Yadav, in contrast, took six in four games while only managing a 5.75
average. Chahal’s situation has become more challenging because none of India’s
first-choice bowlers are really skilled with the bat.