Australia vs India, 2020: 1st T20I, Canberra - Australia Predicted XI

After winning the ODI series, the Australians would be aiming to continue their form when they clash with India for the first of the three T20Is on Friday at the Manuka Oval in Canberra.

The hosts will be without their two key match-winners; David Warner, who is out owing to a groin injury, and Pat Cummins is rested to be fresh for the Test series. There is no news yet of Marcus Stoinis, who walked off the field in the first ODI. However, Aaron Finch has plenty of options to fill the gaps.

Australia vs India, 2020: 1st T20I: – Australia Predicted XI

Aaron Finch

Aaron Finch was the leading run-scorer of the ODI series- he notched a hundred and two fifties. After looking timid in the IPL for Royal Challengers Bangalore where he batted with a strike rate of 111, the ODI series was a reminder of Finch’s ball-striking acumen. The Aussie captain could be even more dangerous in the shortest format.

Matthew Wade

While Marnus Labuschagne opened in the third ODI in place of Warner, Matthew Wade could likely be slotted to open in the T20Is with Finch. Batting at the top for Hobart Hurricanes, Wade averaged 50 in 9 matches at an astounding strike rate of 171.

Apart from his Big Bash numbers, the left-hander opened in the third T20I against England when Warner was rested earlier in the year. D Arcy Short is also in contention after being drafted in as Warner’s replacement.

Steve Smith

Indian bowlers will once again come up against Steve Smith. Smith was dismissed in an unlucky manner in the third ODI – a tickle down the leg side to the keeper – but, he has shown in the first couple of ODIs that he is more than ready for the T20 matches.

The right-hander batted with a strike rate of 148 in the ODI series! He faced a lot of criticism in the IPl and was deemed not good enough for T20s; it’s time that Smith silences them.

Moises Henriques

After his brilliant show in the Big Bash League and consistent performances in domestic cricket, Moises Henriques made his return to the national team after a gap of three years. In the second ODI, he came in the eleven for the injured Marcus Stoinis.

He picked a wicket in the second ODI and scored 22 runs in the third ODI as was about to build a partnership with Finch. If Stoinis is not fit, Henriques is expected to continue.

Glenn Maxwell

After an abysmal IPL, Glenn Maxwell is back at his destructive best. In the ODI series, he scored 167 runs at a strike rate of 194. Maxwell’s batting position would depend – mostly being promoted – on the situation. He also doubles up as an extra spin-bowling option.

Cameron Green

Ahead of the ODI series, coach Justin Langer has stated that Cameron Green needs to bowl some overs in order to make a place in the white-ball eleven. He did bowl 4 overs on his ODI debut and scored 21 vital runs. Green, along with Maxwell and Henriques, provides ample bowling options to Aaron Finch.

Alex Carey

Alex Carey is Australia’s first-choice keeper, even if Wade comes in the eleven. Just before the IPL, Alex Carey made an outstanding match-winning hundred in a tough run chase against England. While he may not have scored runs for Delhi Capitals, but that does not warrant anything when he turns up for Australia,

Ashton Agar

Ashton Agar may not be a first-choice player in the ODIs, but he regularly features in the Australian T20 eleven. Agar picked 5 wickets in 3 T20I matches in England. He also bowled brilliantly in the third ODI against India for his 2/44 applying the pressure in the middle-overs.

Mitchell Starc

Mitchell Starc is facing the heat for his figures of 1/65 and 0/82 in the ODI series, while the other Aussie bowlers have been amongst wickets. This could be attributed to the lack of high-level cricket before the series, as he wasn’t part of the IPL. He was rested from the last ODI in Canberra and will be slot straight in the line-up replacing Sean Abbott, who was taken for cleaners by Jadeja and Pandya.

Adam Zampa

Adam Zampa was the highest wicket-taker of the ODI series picking 7 wickets. He has an inspiring record against Virat Kohli. In international cricket, the leg-spinner has dismissed the Indian captain on 7 occasions.

Josh Hazlewood

Josh Hazlewood also seems to have Kohli’s number- dismissing him in all the three ODIs. The lanky pacer was the second-highest wicket-taker in the ODI series and troubled the Indian batters with his extra bounce.

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