India vs Australia 2019: India's Predicted XI for the first T20I

India host Australia for 2 T20s and 5 ODIs starting from 24th February 2019. With the ICC World Cup 2019 just around the corner, this will be the last opportunity for both the teams to perfect their combinations.

While India has almost finalized its squad, Australia has struggled since the loss of David Warner and Steve Smith.

The Indian management has included most of its best players in the squad as these are going to be their final 7 matches before the WC. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Kuldeep Yadav have been rested, whereas Jasprit Bumrah returns after being rested for the limited overs fixtures against Australia and New Zealand.

As its final experiment, India also has included Mayank Markande, Umesh Yadav and Siddarth Kaul. Vijay Shankar and KL Rahul have also been included in the squad, while Dinesh Karthik has been left out.

Let us look at India's predicted XI for the 1st T20 which is set to be played on 24th February at Visakhapatnam.

Top order

#2 Shikhar Dhawan

Dhawan will play a crucial role for India in the World Cup. The left-handed batsman has been in the tremendous form in T20s since the past 2 years.

However, he seems to have lost that rhythm over the last few matches. In the recently concluded T20 series against New Zealand, he could manage only 64 runs in 3 matches.

Therefore, this is a perfect opportunity for him to regain his touch, as he will be playing at home.

#2 Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma

Rohit will be high on confidence after becoming the world's highest scorer in T20s. He was in decent form in the recently concluded T20 series against New Zealand, where he scored 89 runs in 3 matches, including a fifty.

Rohit, along with Dhawan, will be expected to provide India with good starts against Australia as well. Fans will hope that he scores yet another 100 in T20s as these matches will be played in India, which provides him with the perfect chance to do so.

#3 Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli

After being rested for the final 3 ODIs and T20s against New Zealand, Kohli will return to lead India against the Aussies. His aggression, hunger for runs and hatred of losing will be crucial in a series where India will need to win both the matches in order to win it.

Kohli hasn't played a lot of T20 cricket lately. He did not play the T20 series against both England and New Zealand. Therefore, this will be a good opportunity for him to make a statement before the IPL.

In his captaincy role, Kohli will be assisted by Rohit Sharma. It will be a headache for him to rotate his players, as this is the final chance for him to do the same and find the perfect balance.

Middle Order

#4 Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant

This series will be a chance for Rishabh Pant to prove his mettle before the World Cup. India have shown immense faith in him, but he has often got starts and not been able to convert them into big scores.

Pant provides a wicketkeeping and finishing option to the team, in case MS Dhoni suffers an injury. He was in good form against NZ as well, where he scored 81 runs in 3 matches.

If Pant scores in this series, he might become the final No. 4 for India in the World Cup.

#5 Mahendra Singh Dhoni

MS Dhoni

The legendary wicketkeeper regained his lost touch against Australia and New Zealand, but slightly lost it again in the T20s against the latter.

However, he has a good chance to regain his form against Australia. And playing at home provides him with a perfect chance to do so.

Also, with his place in the WC fixed, he will also play a crucial role behind the stumps and in guiding young players.

All-rounders

#6 Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya had a rollercoaster tour against New Zealand. He scored 61 runs in 2 innings, which included a 22 ball 45 in the fifth ODI, which increased his reputation as a finisher even further.

However, he could not continue this form in T20s, where he could manage just 25 runs in 2 innings. India will expect him to be more consistent against Australia.

#7 Vijay Shankar

Vijay Shankar

Ever since his disappointing performance against Bangladesh in the Nidahas Trophy, Vijay Shankar has improved a lot. He showed his class in the 5th ODI against New Zealand, where he scored 45 runs to pull India out of danger after they were reeling at 18-4.

Shankar continued his dream run in the T20s as well, scoring 84 runs in 3 matches. He has been given an opportunity again, and if he is able to put up a good performance here, he might become a headache for the selectors.

Spinners

#8 Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep Yadav

The 24-year-old left-arm Chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav will play an important role for India in the World Cup. He has always troubled batsmen with his fast googlies and several other variations.

Kuldeep will be Virat Kohli's go to man against the Aussies, whose batting has struggled over the past few series. Because the conditions in India largely suit the spinners, he will be expected to break the momentum of the opposition in the middle overs.

#9 Mayank Markande

Mayank Markande

This is a maiden call-up for the 21-year-old leg-spinner Mayank Markande, who had shown a lot of promise in IPL 2018, taking 15 wickets in 14 matches. He was also phenomenal for India A.

Markande has been included in the side as a replacement for Yuzvendra Chahal, and he will be expected to play against Australia, as India might field 2 spinners seeing the home conditions.

Also, with Krunal Pandya not being in good form, it provides Mayank with the perfect opportunity to perform in the series, and knock the door for selection as the backup spinner in the World Cup.

Pacers

#10 Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah will be fresh after the break, which he had been given in the limited overs series against Australia and New Zealand. Bumrah had taken 21 wickets in the Tests against Australia and will be hoping to repeat the same performance against the same opponent in India as well.

He has already sealed a spot in the World Cup and will be hoping to enter it on a high note through strong performances against Australia.

#11 Umesh Yadav

Umesh Yadav

Umesh Yadav has been out of the Indian setup since the Test series against Australia. However, his outstanding performances for Vidarbha, where he had figures of 4-90, 5-23, 7-48, 5-31, 1-59 and 1-31, has provided him with one last chance to prove himself and knock the door for the World Cup selection.

He will be playing at home, which means it will be the best chance for him to do the same. In the absence of Bhuvneshvar Kumar, the onus will be on Bumrah and Umesh to lead the pace attack.