India are ready to kick-off their final preparations ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup. The Men in Blue will battle Australia in a two-match T20I series, which will be followed by five ODIs. Last time, when these two teams met in T20Is, the series culminated at a scoreline of 1-1.
But, now both the teams would be keen to enforce a result in this chapter of their fight in the shortest format and get the momentum going into the ODI series. After all, every team wants to put their best foot forward as we are closing in on the World Cup.
Let’s take a look at 5 Players to Watch Out for in the India-Australia T20Is:
Virat Kohli
After been rested for the final two ODIs and T20I series against New Zealand, Virat Kohli returns to lead India in the two-match T20I series, which will be followed by five ODIs. Virat Kohli will look to get into his groove and with the likes of Pat Cummins, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Jason Behrendorff, Jhye Richardson in Australia’s bowling line-up, the Indian skipper will be properly tested. And he would love that given this limited-overs series against Australia is going to be India’s final international series before the much awaited and anticipated World Cup.
Rohit Sharma
With 2,326 runs in T20I cricket, Rohit Sharma is the highest run-scorer in the format. Rohit Sharma absolutely cherishes the shortest format. He has four centuries in T20Is. Rohit’s last T20I knock, wherein he scored 38 runs off 32 deliveries cost India the series-deciding game against New Zealand. Now, the Indian white-ball vice-captain would look to make amends and get back to his smashing form. Rohit has an average record against the Men in Yellow and cometh the T20I series, he will love to get back to the “Hitman” mode.
Rishabh Pant
Well, this Indian youngster will be one of the major talking points in the India-Australia series. India have to pick one among Dinesh Karthik and Rishabh Pant for the reserve wicket-keeper’s slot in the World Cup. Keeping that in mind, Pant has also been named in India’s ODI squad against Australia. Pant played good knocks in last two T20I appearances against Black Caps and that went a long way in his selection for ODIs as well. Now, the southpaw would look to continue his merry run in the format he relishes the most. If he continues to cash in on his good form, he might find himself a spot in the ICC World Cup.
Pat Cummins
Pat Cummins is ranked no.1 in ICC Test rankings for bowlers. He has been in amazing form in red-ball cricket. But, his numbers in T20Is are also quite impressive. The lanky pacer has 23 wickets in 18 games and his economy is also under 7. The Aussie speedster has played very few matches in limited-overs cricket. But, now as World Cup is coming closer, he is likely to be part of the Australian team regularly. Cummins has pace, bounce, and ability to pick crucial wickets and that makes him a dynamite bowler for the Kangaroos.
Marcus Stoinis
Marcus Stoinis, who recently won the Australia ODI Player of the Year award, is a great all-round option for Australia. He is someone, who puts his hands up in pressure-cooker situations and this attitude of his, makes him a big-match player. Be it bowling in slog-overs or batting well under pressure, Stoinis is a fine player. But his T20 numbers are quite bad and it is a format, where he needs to leave his mark, given the enormous potential that this 29-year-old cricketer possesses.