IND vs AUS, 1st T20I | Five Player Battles To Watch Out For
India and Australia will lock horns in a five-match T20I series. (AP)
Just four days after their clash in the 2023 Cricket World Cup final, India and Australia resume their rivalry in the first game of a three-match T20I series in Visakhapatnam on Thursday evening. India, with a young side, last played T20 cricket in October during the Asia Games, while Australia's most recent T20I match dates back to early September.
In T20Is, India has won 15 out of 25 matches against Australia, who secured victory in 10. Looking at recent performances, both teams have won four out of their last eight T20 matches against each other.
Leading into the T20I series, Suryakumar Yadav has been appointed the captain of the Indian team, with Ruturaj Gaikwad named as vice-captain against the newly-crowned ODI champions.
.jpg)
From the ODI World Cup 2023 squad, the hosts have included only Prasidh Krishna, Ishan Kishan, and Suryakumar Yadav. Shreyas Iyer will join the squad as vice-captain for the last two T20Is. Hardik Pandya continues to be on the sidelines due to an ankle injury sustained during the World Cup 2023 league matches against Bangladesh. Sanju Samson is not part of the squad.
For the Aussies, veteran opener David Warner is absent from the T20I series against India. Aaron Hardie, the seam-bowling all-rounder, steps in as Warner's replacement and is set to make his T20I debut.
Both teams field B teams, resting the most senior players for the five-match series. Several players will face each other for the first time, while others have encountered each other in international cricket or the IPL. We'll delve into five-player battles that could determine the outcome of the game.
Ruturaj Gaikwad vs Jason Behrendorff
.jpeg)
Ruturaj Gaikwad. (AP)
Gaikwad has been in sublime form lately, scoring 244 runs at an average of 61 in five innings. However, one of his weaknesses continues to be against the left-arm pace. He has been exposed several times by Trent Boult in the IPL. Early in the innings, when the ball is new and swinging, there are maximum chances to get him out. If he survives, he will make you pay for it.
To remove him early in his innings, Australia will have to deploy Jason Behrendorff. The tall left-arm Aussie quick can move the ball both ways with pace and can certainly pose a significant threat to Gaikwad. For India's sake, it's crucial that Gaikwad get off to a good start. This is something Australia would want to stop by hoping that Behrendorff strikes with the new ball.
Glenn Maxwell vs Ravi Bishnoi
Glenn Maxwell. (AP)
Glenn Maxwell versus spinners is always an interesting battle. Against a spin-heavy attack from Afghanistan, Maxwell showcased his quality and smashed an unforgettable 201* in Mumbai in the 2023 World Cup. Maxwell enjoys playing spin and has time and time again proven that he relishes playing in India. Since Yuzvendra Chahal is not in the squad, the onus will be on Ravi Bishnoi to dismiss Australia's 'Big Show.'
In past face-offs between these two players, Maxwell has enjoyed batting against the young leg-spinner, striking at 185. What works in Bishnoi's favor is that the only time he has dismissed Maxwell in his career was earlier this year in the IPL. Given the kind of form Maxwell is in, it will be a very tough task to stop him. It will be interesting to see how Bishnoi responds to the challenge.
Suryakumar Yadav vs Nathan Ellis
Suryakumar Yadav. (AP)
Surya had limited opportunities in the recent World Cup but thrives in this format, approaching his batting with fearlessness. As the top-ranked T20I batter, he poses a significant threat in the shortest version of the game, showcasing ease in run-scoring. While SKY's batting exhibits no glaring weaknesses, he faced challenges during the World Cup in handling slower deliveries.
Exploiting this, bowlers might use slow tennis ball bouncers against him. Ellis, a proven wicket-taker for Australia in T20Is, aims to unsettle Surya with his variations. Known for skillfully mixing his lines and lengths, Ellis poses a formidable challenge. Yet, outsmarting Surya is equally challenging. This middle-overs battle promises an intriguing contest.
Steve Smith vs Prasidh Krishna
Steve Smith. (IANS)
Prasidh was part of India's World Cup squad as a replacement player, though he didn't get a chance to showcase his skills. In the upcoming series, he is expected to lead the pace bowling attack. Tasked with a crucial role as a potential leader, Prasidh will be focused on dismissing the most experienced player in the Australian camp, Steve Smith.
Despite having faced each other once in the one-day format earlier this year, where Prasidh had dismissed Smith, the Australian batsman, aware of Prasidh's potential threat, will be gearing up for the challenge. Given Smith's less-than-stellar performance in the World Cup, Prasidh aims to ensure a challenging start for him in the upcoming five-match series.
Tim David vs Arshdeep Singh
.jpeg)
Arshdeep Singh. (AP)
India should keep a close eye on Tim David, a destructive batter with a T20I strike rate of 163, capable of quickly turning the game in favor of his team. With a knack for being a match-winner similar to SKY, it becomes crucial for India to dismiss him early, considering his potential impact against their relatively inexperienced bowling lineup.
To counter David's threat, India might rely on their slog overs specialist, Arshdeep Singh, a left-arm pacer known for claiming crucial wickets. The two players have crossed paths only once in the IPL this year, where David scored 14 runs off 7 balls. Arshdeep will be eager to avenge that encounter.
 "Vaibhav Tripathi")
