India vs Australia 2019, 1st T20I - Toss Report
Table of Contents
Australia won the toss and decided to bowl first against India in the first T20I at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam.
Here is what the captains said:
Aaron Finch:
“We will bowl first. It looks like a really nice wicket and I don’t think it is going to change much. Peter Handscomb will make his debut and he will keep wickets too. Short will open the innings for us.”
Virat Kohli:
“We would have wanted to bowl first too. I was switched off and didn’t watch much cricket during my off period. I am ready to go now. There are people who might be the potential contender for our World Cup squad and we want to give them opportunities. KL Rahul will open the innings, Shikhar Dhawan has been rested. Umesh Yadav in place for Bhuuvi. Mayank Markande will play instead of Vijay Shankar.”
Preview:
While India and Australia are all set to resume their rivalry in the shortest format of the game, it wouldn’t be very to say that not much is at stake as far as the series is concerned. Both the teams will be using the series and the subsequent ODI series as their preparation ahead of the World Cup. While Australia still have some games to play before the World Cup after this series ends, India do not have that luxury. The Indian team-management will have to try out all their plans in the series before the players play in the IPL before flying out to England.
As far as the first T20I is concerned, India are firm favourites to win it. The Men in Blue are not only the team in form but have also enjoyed a stellar record over Australia in the shortest format of the game. So far, India have won 11 out of 19 T20Is they have played against Australia since 2007. Australia, on the other hand, have won only six, with two games being abandoned due to rain. In fact, out of the seven series that India and Australia have played, India have won three, while Australia have managed only one.
Teams:
India:
Rohit Sharma, Lokesh Rahul, Virat Kohli(c), Rishabh Pant, MS Dhoni(w), Dinesh Karthik, Krunal Pandya, Umesh Yadav, Mayank Markande, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah
Australia:
Aaron Finch(c), D Arcy Short, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Peter Handscomb(w), Ashton Turner, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Jhye Richardson, Jason Behrendorff, Adam Zampa
