Raipur, November 6 — Team India stands at a pivotal moment in the five-match T20I series against Australia, with the contest currently tied at 1-1. In seeking to gain a decisive advantage, India will face a depleted Australian squad on Thursday afternoon. Indian vice-captain Shubman Gill strives to shake off his recent form slump and deliver a standout performance.
Australia enters the match missing two significant players — Josh Hazlewood and Travis Head. Their absence raises questions about the team’s ability to maintain momentum. Head, released to participate in the Sheffield Shield, gears up for the upcoming Ashes. Meanwhile, Hazlewood’s absence in the last game was painfully noticeable in Australia’s failure to defend their score of 186.
This fourth T20I presents a prime opportunity for India to seize a 2-1 lead before the series heads to the final match at the Gabba. In the previous encounter, India showcased a more balanced team lineup. The insertion of an all-rounder at No. 8 created a robust framework for both batting and bowling.
Despite these positives, Gill’s recent performances cast a shadow. He has now gone six innings without crossing the fifty-run mark, with his scores reading 10, 9, 24, 37*, 5, and 15. Although he displayed moments of brilliance during a partnership with captain Suryakumar Yadav in Canberra, Gill has struggled against fuller deliveries, particularly those that move away from his bat.
On the flip side, opener Abhishek Sharma has remained a beacon of hope for the Indian batting lineup. He has lived up to his status as the world’s No. 1 T20 batter with a remarkable half-century and a couple of explosive starts. His consistency puts him in a strong position heading into this crucial match.
Suryakumar Yadav also has shown flashes of excellence, having delivered solid performances in the first and third games. He aims to convert these starts into significant innings, especially as the team anticipates a month-long break before taking on South Africa.
Match starts at 1:45 PM IST.
Teams:
India: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill (VC), Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Sanju Samson (WK), Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar.
Australia: Mitchell Marsh (C), Matthew Short, Josh Inglis (WK), Josh Phillippe (WK), Mitchell Owen, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Kuhnemann, Adam Zampa, Mahli Beardman, Ben Dwarshuis, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Marcus Stoinis.