India vs Australia | India’s predicted XI for the first T20I in Brisbane
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Another India-Australia series is upon us and despite the absence of Steve Smith and David Warner, the series will gain as much attention as it would have got in a parallel universe. India, however, will use the series to re-enforce their limited-overs brilliance and check their strength as well.
Openers
Rohit Sharma: Rohit Sharma loves Australia even more than he loves Eden Gardens. The team brings the best out of him all the time and not just in ODIs. The Indian vice-captain recently became the first player in the world to score four centuries in the T20Is and stands a chance to dethrone Martin Guptill to be the highest run-scorer in the format as well.
Shikhar Dhawan: For the Delhite, 2018 has been a mixed bag, but as far as the T20Is are concerned, he is leading the pack. His five fifties from 15 innings helped him score those 572 runs in 2018, which have come at a strike-rate of 141.58 - a serious achievement for someone who was going through a terrible run last year.
Middle-order
Virat Kohli: Amidst his stupendous runs in ODIs and Tests, Virat Kohli has somehow been an odd member in the team set-up. The Indian skipper has played only seven T20Is this year and is yet to score a half-century . However, he is Virat Kohli and doesn’t need the mundane things to get going. Rest assured, Brisbane crowd will get a glimpse once again.
KL Rahul: It’s been four years since the Karnataka batsman made his international debut in Australia and he has returned to the country as a much-improved batsman. But the doubt regarding his consistency is still there and he is still struggling to nail down a spot for himself in the shortest version of the game. He will want to use this series to come back to the form.
Rishabh Pant: The Delhi boy has been designated as the wicket-keeper for the match and also has to shoulder a lot of responsibility with the bat as well. However, he needs to be well aware of the deficiencies that he has as a batsman as the extra bounce that Gabba offers and the large square boundaries may work against his down-swinging strategy.
Dinesh Karthik: Time is running out for the Tamil Nadu keeper thanks to the growing aura of Rishabh Pant in every match. Opportunity or the lack of it thereof no longer be an excuse and it’s Karthik’s to swim or sink from now on. Can he do something special in Australia? Well, he is always unpredictable and I won’t bet against it.
All-rounder
Krunal Pandya: The elder Pandya possesses certain
© Pacers
Bhuvneshwar Kumar: The Indian pacer has been a pale shadow of his former self in recent times and his record in the powerplay over is as terrible as it could get. However, ignore him at your own peril. He has the ability to make a statement on his day and Australia is one opposition he loves to do that time and again.
Jasprit Bumrah: The Mumbai Indians bowler made his international debut back in 2016 in Australia and was India's top wicket-taker, with six wickets in three matches, when they swept Australia 3-0 in the T20I series in 2016. A place of happy memories, Bumrah will be fancying his chances again.
Khaleel Ahmed: While Australia is expected to field three pacers and rest Adam Zampa, the writing is on the wall for Khaleel. The left-arm pacer may not be the ideal person to exploit the Gabba bounce, but his natural angle can be a phenomenon in Brisbane as the large square boundaries will help him considerably.
Spinner
Kuldeep Yadav: Australia got a first-hand experience of Kuldeep’s genius when they came to India last year and the left-arm wrist spinner will be eager to do the same this time as well, albeit in a different clime. The thing that Australia throws only dry surfaces at the start of the summer, he will be happy extracting turn from his supple wrist.
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