India Squad For Australia T20Is

Team India will host Australia for a three-match T20I series, starting on the 20th of September.

Both teams will play this series as preparation before the ICC T20 World Cup in Australia. The matches will take place on September 20, 23, and 26. Australia tour of India 2022 will only comprise the T20I series.

Mohali will host the first T20I, followed by Nagpur and Hyderabad. The visitors have already announced their squad T20Is, but India is due to name their squads.

India’s Predicted Squad For T20I Series Against Australia

Let’s look at India’s predicted 15-member squad for the T20I series against Australia, which begins on the 20th of September. 

1. Rohit Sharma

The Indian skipper has found some form lately, scoring 72 off 41 against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup. He has been giving a flying start to India’s innings and plays a crucial role at the top of the order to keep the opposition on the back foot from the very first ball.

He has a strike rate of 145.9 during the first six overs in 16 T20Is this year. Overall, the Indian opener has 307 runs in the last 11 T20Is at a blistering strike rate of 153.5, including two half centuries. 

2. KL Rahul

KL Rahul has been out of form in the ongoing Asia Cup. He has recently returned from an injury and has not been at his best since his return series against Zimbabwe.

In the ongoing Asia Cup, Rahul has managed to score just 70 in the four matches he played at an average of 17.5. He is also currently the vice-captain of the Indian T20I team and has a big role to play up the order. The star Indian opener will be looking to get back his touch in the remaining matches ahead of the T20 World Cup.

3. Virat Kohli

Former India captain Virat Kohli took a break from cricket prior to the ongoing Asia Cup.

Although he was out of action for a long period of time, the Indian number three is currently the highest run scorer for the Indian team in the Asia Cup with 154 runs at an average of 51.33.

His innings against Pakistan in the Super-4 gave us a glimpse of old Virat and most importantly just before the mega event in Australia.

4. Suryakumar Yadav

The Indian middle order batter has been India’s highest run-scorer in 2022 so far. He has 561 runs at a strike rate of 181.55 this year, including three 50s and one century.

His best innings came against England when he scored his first T20I century at Trent Bridge. 

5. Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya is enjoying a purple patch in his career. The hard-hitting pace all-rounder has 331 runs at a strike rate of 142.1 this year. In addition, he has been brilliant with the ball, taking 12 wickets in 2022 so far.

He had a great start to the ongoing Asia Cup with a player of the match performance against arch-rivals Pakistan. The 28-year-old took 3 wickets and scored an unbeaten 32 off 17 against Babar Azam and co. 

6. Deepak Hooda

The Rajasthan batter scored 274 runs at an average of 54.8 with a strike rate of 161.2 prior to the Asia Cup.

The management asked him to bat in a new position at 7 in the ongoing Asia Cup in absence of Ravindra Jadeja and the outcome was not great at all.

It is expected to see Hooda getting another chance to prove himself in the remaining matches before the team flies to Australia.

7. Rishabh Pant

The wicket-keeper batter’s place in the T20I team has been under the scanner for a while now. In the two games he played in the Asia Cup, the left-hander scored 25 runs at a strike rate of 124 and failed to give India a fitting finish on both occasions.

In absence of Ravindra Jadeja, management is likely to back Pant as the left-hander  and will be hoping to get back amongst runs right before the  World Cup. 

8. Axar Patel

The southpaw had an impressive IPL with the bat where he scored 182 runs at a strike rate of 151.7 batting down the order. In absence of Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel is expected to make it to the squad for the remaining two series. 

9. Harshal Patel

Harshal Patel is expected to return from injury and be available for the series against Australia.

The pace bowler took 19 wickets in 14 T20I appearances for India this year and is currently the second-highest wicket-taker in 2022 for the Men in Blue.

10. Dinesh Karthik

The 37-year-old had a brilliant return to India colours as a designated finisher. He scored 92 runs at a strike rate of 158.6 against South Africa in his comeback series.

However, he had a poor tour of England and has managed to play only one innings in the ongoing Asia Cup. It is expected to see Karthik back in the XI and get more chances against the Proteas before flying to Australia.

11. Avesh Khan

The Indian speedster has got the backing of Indian team management in recent times.

The pacer from Madhya Pradesh took 14 wickets in 14 T20Is so far but has a relatively poor economy of 9.11.

With the uncertainty behind Jasprit Bumrah’s availability, Avesh is expected to get another chance to prove himself against the mighty ahead of the World Cup. 

12. Arshdeep Singh

The young left-arm pacer impressed everyone in the ongoing Asia Cup. He took 13 wickets in 10 games at an economy rate of 7.60 in his short T20I career so far.

He was massively impressive during the death overs in the Super-4 games against Pakistan and Sri Lanka. It is expected to see him get a long-run and a place in the squad to face Australia.

13. Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Bhuvneshwar Kumar is currently the leading wicket-taker in the shortest format in 2022 so far.

He has 26 wickets at an economy of 6.97 in 20 matches he played. Despite having two bad games in the Asia Cup, Rohit Sharma and co will back Kumar for his experience ahead of the T20 World Cup in Australia.

14. Yuzvendra Chahal

Yuzvendra Chahal is expected to start the series against Australia as India’s first-choice spinner.

The leg-spinner is having a poor Asia Cup tournament and will be hoping to come back to his best in the remaining matches before the T20 World Cup. Chahal has 19 wickets at an economy rate of 7.37 this year. 

15. Ravi Bishnoi

The young wrist spinner has got an impressive start to his T20I career, having taken 16 wickets in 10 games.

He was also the best bowler against Pakistan in Super-4 of the Asia Cup where he gave just 26 runs and took 1 wicket in his 4 overs quota.