New format, new teams, a bit more India vs Australia

Anticipate More Cricket Action Between India and Australia:

In the realm of cricket, brace yourself for an abundance of clashes between India and Australia.

Challenges in the Cricket Calendar Evident in India vs Australia T20I Series

The current T20I series between India and Australia underscores the issues with the international cricket schedule. Initiating a five-match series merely four days after an ODI World Cup final is inherently impractical. A precedent for such a tight turnaround exists, notably with England compelled to engage in a three-match ODI series against Australia shortly after their T20 World Cup triumph just a year ago.

Adding to the predicament is the frequency of encounters between the two teams this year. From a four-Test series in India in February and March, followed by a three-match ODI series, to their participation in the World Test Championship final in June immediately after the IPL. Subsequently, they faced off in a second three-match ODI series in India in September, a mere two weeks before the ODI World Cup, where they met both at the beginning and end of the tournament. Additionally, a three-match T20I series took place in India in September the previous year. The chaotic scheduling is further compounded by Australia's involvement in the Ashes series and India's participation in the Asia Cup and Asia Games during intervening periods.

Despite these challenges, the series is set to proceed, drawing viewership. India has sensibly rested most of their World Cup squad, retaining only Suryakumar Yadav, who assumes leadership, along with Ishan Kishan and Prasidh Krishna. Notably, Kishan played just two World Cup games, and Prasidh had no participation. Shreyas Iyer is set to return for the last two games after a rest in the initial three, while coach Rahul Dravid is absent, with VVS Laxman assuming charge following his coaching role with the victorious Asian Games team.

Australia has opted to retain a significant portion of their World Cup squad in India, including seven players and Tanveer Sangha, who served as a travelling reserve throughout the entire tournament. Their additions to the squad include seven new faces, with Matthew Wade assuming the captaincy. This decision leaves at least four players, still reveling in Sunday's victory, tasked with sobering up in time to hit the field.

Originally slated to participate, David Warner had a last-minute withdrawal, paving the way for Aaron Hardie to take his place. Spencer Johnson, dealing with an injury, was also removed from the initial squad, and Kane Richardson steps in as the replacement. The absence of key players, including ODI captain Pat Cummins, stand-in T20 captain Mitch Marsh, and others like Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Cameron Green, underscores the challenges Australia faces.

Adding to the changes, head coach Andrew McDonald has returned to Australia, with assistant coach Andre Borovec assuming control for the upcoming matches. Despite the array of reasons that might discourage the series, it's crucial to acknowledge that the next T20 World Cup looms just over six months away. These five matches represent a mere fraction of the 11 scheduled T20Is for both teams before the crucial World Cup.

It's worth noting the significance of seemingly inconsequential series, as demonstrated by Australia's three-match ODI series against England last year following the T20 World Cup. While it may have appeared insignificant at the time, this series provided a platform for Travis Head to secure his position as Australia's ODI World Cup opener and gave Pat Cummins the opportunity to captain in ODIs for the first time. Similarly, the current series presents opportunities for players on both sides to solidify their roles leading up to the T20 World Cup next year.

Form guide:

Australia WWWWW

India WWWWL (last fives complete T20Is, recent first)

Under the spotlight: Kishan and Wade

"Ishan Kishan made a promising start but couldn't sustain the momentum."

This presents a crucial opportunity for Ishan Kishan to solidify his role as the wicketkeeper leading up to the next World Cup. Despite initially holding the position for the first eight T20Is this year, Kishan faced setbacks, losing his place after just two games in the West Indies series. Sanju Samson took over, but with Samson absent from the current squad, Jitesh Sharma serves as the second wicketkeeper. In the presence of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad, Kishan finds himself potentially engaged in a three-way battle for the opening spot. Notably, Kishan has rarely batted outside the opening position in his 29-match T20I career, doing so only twice - at No. 3 in March 2021 and at No. 6 in July 2021.

Matthew Wade faces an intriguing series as well. His appointment as captain in the absence of Cummins and Marsh indicates continued high regard from Australian selectors. However, Wade openly acknowledges uncertainty about being the first-choice wicketkeeper for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Despite Josh Inglis displacing Alex Carey in the ODI World Cup, the Marcus Stoinis-Tim David-Wade trio at Nos. 5-7 has proven to be Australia's most reliable T20 batting lineup in the past two years. Their experience in critical moments and proficiency against spin bowling on slow pitches makes breaking this combination a significant decision. Wade has the opportunity to dispel doubts by excelling in batting, keeping, and leadership during this series.

Team news:

Predicting the playing XIs becomes an engaging trivia challenge for fans anticipating this series. India's lineup remains shrouded in mystery due to the varied combinations experimented with recently. While Suryakumar Yadav is likely to secure the No.3 spot, the role of Ishan Kishan, whether as a keeper or in the batting order, remains uncertain. Axar Patel's return seems probable.

India (likely): 1 Ishan Kishan (wk), 2 Ruturaj Gaikwad, 3 Suryakumar Yadav (capt), 4 Tilak Varma, 5 Shivam Dube, 6 Rinku Singh, 7 Axar Patel/Washington Sundar, 8 Ravi Bishnoi, 9 Arshdeep Singh, 10 Prasidh Krishna/Avesh Khan, 11 Mukesh Kumar

Australia, on the other hand, is prioritizing a composed playing eleven. The inclusion of Steven Smith, originally slated to open in the T20I series against South Africa, seems plausible, considering his recovery from a wrist injury. Marcus Stoinis and Sean Abbott, having missed the World Cup semi and final, are expected to play, while Tanveer Sangha might get an opportunity to provide rest to Zampa.

Australia (likely): 1 Steven Smith, 2 Matthew Short, 3 Aaron Hardie, 4 Josh Inglis, 5 Marcus Stoinis, 6 Tim David, 7 Matthew Wade (capt, wk), 8 Sean Abbott, 9 Nathan Ellis, 10 Jason Behrendorff, 11 Tanveer Sangha

Conditions and Pitch:

Expect humid conditions with a possibility of a couple of afternoon showers. Similar weather was experienced when India and Australia clashed in an ODI at this venue in March, resulting in a 10-wicket win for Australia, courtesy of their quicks. Australia also emerged victorious in a low-scoring T20I at the same venue in 2019. Historically, bowlers have held the upper hand over batsmen in the three T20Is played at this ground.

Trivia and Stats:

Australia boasts a strong track record at the two grounds in Visakhapatnam, having played five internationals, including four ODIs and one T20I, and suffering only one defeat.

Suryakumar Yadav is set to become the ninth captain for India in T20Is since the beginning of 2021, marking the fourth change this year after Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ruturaj Gaikwad.

Matthew Wade brings captaincy experience to Australia's T20I side, having led in seven matches, including a clash against India in 2020. He also took charge in Australia's final match of the 2022 World Cup when Aaron Finch was sidelined due to injury.

Quotes:

"With an eye on the T20 World Cup, the upcoming games hold significant importance. My message to the younger players is crystal clear: embrace fearlessness and contribute whatever it takes to benefit the team. Their performances in the IPL and recent domestic cricket have been commendable, as reported by our support staff."

- Suryakumar Yadav, India's interim captain, emphasizes the importance of the series.

"Traditionally, the wickets here favor batting significantly. In the West Indies, they tend to slow down and offer some spin. So, any chance we get on a slower wicket with spin is an opportunity for someone to step up and showcase their capabilities."

- Matthew Wade, Australia's interim captain, shares insights on the playing conditions in Visakhapatnam.