After loss in the first T20I against Australia in Mohali by 4 wickets, the Indian team bounced back in the second T20I, in Nagpur, to level the series, setting up an exciting decider on Sunday in Hyderabad.
The game at the VCA Stadium was delayed by two hours due to wet outfield and hence was curtailed to 8 overs per side. After electing to bowl first, Indian bowlers restricted Australia to 90 in 8 overs, which the hosts managed to chase down with 4 balls to spare. Skipper Rohit Sharma was named the Player of the Match for his 46* off 20 balls.
Here is India’s predicted XI for the third T20I in Hyderabad:
Openers: Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul
KL Rahul struck 55 (35) in the first T20I while Sharma smashed 46* (20) in the second. Before the start of the series, Rohit had already confirmed that Rahul is their first-choice opener and will open at the T20 World Cup. KLR seems to be getting his mojo back after the long injury layoff.
Middle-order: Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya
After his maiden T20I ton against Afghanistan in the Asia Cup, Virat Kohli has disappointingly failed in the two matches vs Australia – 2 (7) and 11 (6). He’d like to get a big score against one of his favourite opponents.
Suryakumar Yadav was dismissed for a golden duck in Nagpur, but he had walloped 46 runs off 25 balls in the Mohali. The 31-year-old remains a game-changer batsman for India in the shortest format.
Hardik Pandya plundered 71* (30) in Mohali, taking India to 208, but struggled for his run-a-ball 9 in Nagpur. His bowling has been a concern – 0/32 in 3 overs across two matches – since the Asia Cup, and it is clear that India cannot use him as a fifth proper bowling option and he will remain the sixth bowler.
Wicket-keeper: Dinesh Karthik (wk)
India had brought back Rishabh Pant for the shortened 8-over game in Nagpur instead of Bhuvneshwar Kumar to lengthen the batting. Pant didn’t get to bat. However, the left-hander is likely to be back on bench for the third T20I.
Dinesh Karthik has all but sealed his spot in the XI after his cameo 10* (2) where he finished the game calmly. Rohit said that the management looks at him in that role, and are expected to stick with him.
Bowlers: Axar Patel, Harshal Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah
Axar (3/17 and 2/13) and Bumrah (1/23) have been outstanding and are well-placed. But the other options are slighlty debatable.
While India have the options of Deepak Chahar and R Ashwin to choose from, we are expecting that they will stick to the attack that they have deemed their best at the start of the series. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who remains the best new ball bowler, was dropped from the second T20I for Pant and now is likely to return. With the return of Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar now need not bowl in the death overs, which has been his weaker phase in recent games.
Harshal Patel has had two bad outings – 0/49 and 0/32 (2 overs) – but India may stick with him: he’s coming back from an injury, and also adds batting depth. The other pace-bowling option, Deepak Chahar, is also recognised for his new ball bowling, which is fulfilled by Bhuvneshwar, so it’d be highly unlikely that Chahar gets selected over Harshal.
The place of Chahal – 1/42 and 1/12 (1 over) – in the XI is under threat with Ashwin on the bench. In 6 matches since the Asia Cup, Chahal has taken 5 wickets at an average of 36, and economy of 8.9. He may get the nod ahead of Ashwin for the Hyderabad T20I, but time is running out for the leg-spinner.
India’s predicted XI for third T20I vs Australia:
Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Axar Patel, Harshal Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah
