India vs Australia: Probable playing XIs for first T20I

India and Australia are set to take on each other in the T20I series from the 23rd of November. Just 4 days after the conclusion of the ODI World Cup 2023, the two teams will be playing against each other in the T20I series. It will act as a preparation for the T20 World Cup 2024, which is set to happen in the West Indies and the USA in the middle of the year.

Both teams have rested some of their key players who took part in the recently concluded ODI World Cup 2023. India is without the star presence of Virat and Rohit. On the other hand, Australia is without its key bowlers and David Warner for the series. With not much time left to prepare for the T20 World Cup, players would be looking forward to making the most of the opportunities they have got.

Here is the likely playing XI of both teams for the first match of the series.

India: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ishan Kishan (WK), Suryakumar Yadav (C), Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, and Mukesh Kumar

Australia: Steve Smith, Travis Head, Matt Short, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Wade (C & WK), Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Sean Abbott, Jason Behrendorff, Adam Zampa, and Nathan Ellis.

Top order

India is likely to go with the trio of Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Ishan Kishan in the first match of the series as their top-order batters. The right-left combination works well between Gaikwad and Jaiswal. Jaiswal can also provide some overs with the ball. Ishan Kishan is likely to bat at number 3 and take up the responsibility of keeping wickets for the match in Vishakhapatnam.

On the other hand, Australia is likely to open with Steve Smith as an experiment. In the absence of David Warner, Smith is likely to open with Travis Head for the first T20I. Reports suggest that it is an opportunity for Smith to reinvent himself in T20Is. Matthew Short with his All-round capabilities can come in handy at number 3 for Australia. It leads to a strong batting lineup.

Middle-order

India is likely to play Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, and Axar Patel in the middle and lower middle order for the first T20I. Yadav is the most experienced of the lot in the XI and will bat around youngsters like Tilak and Rinku. Axar will probably be in the starting XI as the spin-bowling All-rounder. If necessary, Tilak and Rinku can roll their arms over too.

Australia is likely to go with Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Wade (C & WK), Marcus Stoinis, and Tim David as their middle-order batters. Maxwell had a sensational tournament in the ODI World Cup 2023. Wade with his new responsibility of leading the side might bat in the middle order and don the gloves as well. As finishers, Australia is likely to play the power-hitting duo of Stoinis and David.

Bowlers

Along with the All-rounders, India is likely to go with genuine bowlers like Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, and Mukesh Kumar for the first match. Bishnoi will be the main spinner in the XI with some support from others like Axar and the part-timers. With the new ball, Arshdeep is likely to share the load with Prasidh Krishna. In the death overs, Arshdeep would be joined by Mukesh.

Sean Abbott, Jason Behrendorff, Adam Zampa, and Nathan Ellis are likely to form the Australian attack. Stoinis and Maxwell are likely to be the fifth bowling options. With the new ball, Behrendorff is likely to lead the attack. With him, Australia might ask either Abbott or Ellis to share the responsibility of handling the Powerplay and death overs respectively. Zampa will be the key bowler in the middle overs.