India vs Australia 2019: India's Predicted Playing XI for 1st T20I

It’s been a hectic last few months for India. They’ve been on the road for almost four months and they now return home for their final international assignment before the all-important World Cup 2019.

After winning almost everything on their tours to Australia and New Zealand (only losing the T20I series in New Zealand), the ‘Men in Blue’ will look to extend their dominance at home as well.

Australia, who played India just a month back, will start the tour with the two-match T20I series. The last time the two sides met in the shortest format, the three-match series ended in a 1-1 draw.

India have named a strong squad for the T20I series as they look to continue their recent dominance over the Aussies. As we build up to the first T20I, here’s a quick look at the probable playing XI for the Virat Kohli-led side.

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Openers

#1 Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma is currently the leading run-getter in T20Is; he has amassed 2326 runs, and has been excellent over the last few years in white-ball cricket. However, he blew hot and cold in New Zealand. Despite scoring a couple of fifties in the ODI series and another fifty in the T20I series, he looked scratchy.

Hence, he will be looking to hit his straps once again. The Indian vice-captain also doesn’t really have a great T20I record against Australia (he averages 24.08), and will be looking to correct that as well.

#2 Shikhar Dhawan

Shikhar Dhawan is going to partner Rohit Sharma once again at the top of the order. The duo have formed a fabulous opening partnership. Moreover, Dhawan was fantastic in the shortest format last year. He scored 690 runs which was the most by a batsman in a calendar year in T20Is.

However, after a good start to the New Zealand tour, Dhawan couldn’t really get going as he registered scores of 29, 30 and 5 in the three T20Is. Hence, like his opening partner, the left-handed Delhi opener will also be looking to find some fluency.

Middle-order

Virat Kohli (L) and MS Dhoni

#3 Virat Kohli

The Indian skipper Virat Kohli is returning from a break as he was rested for the last couple of ODIs and the T20I series in New Zealand. He has looked in sublime form lately, to say the least.

In his last five ODI innings, he’s gone past the 40-run mark in every innings. Moreover, the last time he played a T20I for India back in November, his unbeaten 61 led the team to a series-levelling win.

#4 Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant has been a part of the Indian T20 side for a while now. However, he hasn’t really set the stage on fire in the shortest format.

Pant was good in parts in New Zealand. In the second T20I his unbeaten 40 helped India polish off the chase, while he played a short cameo in the final one before he threw it away.

Hence, Pant is likely to get a few more opportunities in this middle-order. He will want to impress the selectors and inch closer to a World Cup berth.

#5 MS Dhoni

MS Dhoni was not a part of the T20I side for two back-to-back series back in November. But he returned to the shortest format in New Zealand.

The former skipper registered scores of 39, 20 not out and 2 in that series as India lost 1-2. Thus, Dhoni will be looking to utilize these last few international games before the World Cup.

#6 Dinesh Karthik

Dinesh Karthik has been in really good form in the shortest format and has become the finisher for the ‘Men in Blue’. In 2018, he remained unbeaten in 8 innings (out of the 11 he played) as he scored 181 runs at a strike-rate of 152.10.

Karthik will be looking to make a mark in this series after getting dropped from the 50-over side.

All-rounders

Krunal Pandya (L) and Dinesh Karthik

#7 Vijay Shankar

Hardik Pandya’s injury might have come as a blessing in disguise for Vijay Shankar. The Tamil Nadu all-rounder is the only seam bowling all-rounder in the side and will most likely get the nod in the absence of India’s premier white-ball all-rounder.

Shankar was impressive in New Zealand as he showed he can adapt to different situations. He didn’t bowl too much on that tour but in the absence of Pandya, he will be entrusted with the ball a lot more.

#8 Krunal Pandya

The elder Pandya has been a part of India’s T20 plans for the last few months. He’s played every game in the last three series and has done well too.

Krunal Pandya has picked up a couple of man of the match awards for his left-arm spin in the recent past. Moreover, he has shown he can bounce back well after a bad game.

Although he didn’t get a lot of opportunities with the bat - he’s batted in just four innings - he has impressed in a couple of them.

Bowlers

Jasprit Bumrah (L) and Yuzvendra Chahal

#9 Yuzvendra Chahal

In the absence of Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal will be leading India’s spin attack. The Haryana wrist-spinner has been in excellent form as he has constantly been amongst the wickets.

Chahal has posed a great threat to the opposition batsmen in recent times and has been very successful. Hence, he will be looking to continue his good form.

#10 Siddarth Kaul

The second seamer’s spot might create a little debate. Umesh Yadav is back in the squad after his exploits for Vidarbha in the Ranji Trophy. Meanwhile, Siddarth Kaul has been in and out of the Indian limited-overs sides over the last few months.

Kaul was a part of the T20 side in New Zealand but didn’t get a game. Hence, he might get the nod ahead of Umesh for the first T20I.

Kaul has done well in domestic cricket for both Punjab and India ‘A’ in the recent past.

#11 Jasprit Bumrah

India’s pace spearhead will be back in action after a month-long break. Jasprit Bumrah was rested after India’s historic Test series win in Australia; he missed the ODI series in Australia and the full tour of New Zealand.

Bumrah will lead the pace attack once again and will be looking to get back into rhythm.