With only five T20I matches left before India play their first T20 World Cup match against Pakistan, it seems that a piece of the jigsaw is missing from the Rohit Sharma-led team. To say that the missing link is in the bowling attack would make sense as India will be sweating over the execution of their bowlers.
Australia, on the other hand, will be delighted with their potent start after they drew first blood in the series. The visitors don’t have the main players in their squad and still the fact they managed to beat India, would do them a world of good.
We take a look at the current form, head-to-head, players to look out for, and squads of both teams in our match preview.
Current form for India: L W L L W
The Men in Blue have lost three out of their last five matches and it is a major concern for them. Furthermore, the team has been poor in the field as they had dropped three catches in the opening game and they will look to pull up the socks.
Current form for Australia: W L W W W
Cameron Green was a big positive as the all-rounder scored 61 runs while opening the innings in his second T20I game. Moreover, Matthew Wade was able to get Australia over the line in the run-chase with a fine knock of 45 runs. Nathan Ellis had also bowled an impressive spell for the tourists as he scalped three wickets.
Head to Head: Matches: 25, Won by India: 13, Won by Australia: 10, NR:1, A:1.
India clearly holds the wood on Australia in the head-to-head battle.
Players to watch out for: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, and Yuzvendra Chahal will hold the key for India.
Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Steve Smith, Josh Hazlewood, Tim David, Aaron Finch, and Glenn Maxwell will be the key players for the tourists.
India Squad for Australia T20Is:
Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul (vc), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant (wk), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Hardik Pandya, R. Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Harshal Patel, Deepak Chahar, Jasprit Bumrah.
Australia squad for India T20I series:
Aaron Finch (c), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Daniel Sams, Steve Smith, Matthew Wade, Adam Zampa.
