India vs Australia T20Is: Ideal playing XI for India in the first T20I

After a long overseas season, the Indian team will finally have a short home series before the commencement of the IPL which is into its 12th edition.

The T20 series does not have much significance for both the sides with regard to the preparation for the ICC World Cup, but this gives them an opportunity to test their bench strength. With the likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar given rest, Sidharth Kaul and Umesh Yadav are back into the side.

While Kuldeep Yadav makes way for debutant Mayank Markande who has impressed everyone in the IPL as well as in the domestic circuit, the most notable inclusion for India is that of KL Rahul who is back after a gap of 2 months.

India's squad for the 2 match T20 series

Virat Kohli(c), Rohit Sharma (vc), KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Rishabh Pant, Dinesh Karthik, MS Dhoni (WK), Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Vijay Shankar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav, Sidharth Kaul, Mayank Markande.

This is what India's ideal playing XI should look like:

#1 Shikhar Dhawan

The 'Gabbar' of Indian cricket, Shikhar Dhawan, is likely to open the batting along with Rohit Sharma. The opener has been a bit shaky in recent times. While he has got off to a few starts, he has not capitalized on them and was unable to get a big one against both the Aussies and the Kiwis.

But with the familiar conditions, one can expect him to score big either in the ODI or the T20 series against the visiting Aussies.

#2 Rohit Sharma

After leading the side in the T20 series in the absence of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma will be relieved of his captaincy duties as the regular skipper is back for the series.

The top three of the Indian batting has scored the bulk of the runs for the team, and currently, there is no better top 3 than the one India possesses. Rohit Sharma has been in tremendous form in the limited overs format from the moment he started to open the innings for India.

#3 Virat Kohli (c)

The undisputed king of the shorter formats

Virat Kohli, as a batsman, has been in phenomenal form ever since he struck a purple patch, and has been consistently scoring runs for fun against every opposition in any given condition.

Virat has not played the shortest format of the game in a long time but knowing Virat, that will in no way affect his confidence.

#4 Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant has been making headlines ever since his performance against Australia in the Test series down under. He impressed everyone both with the bat and the gloves. He is considered as the successor to the legend Mahendra Singh Dhoni and he has already achieved what many of the Indian keepers could not in his short career.

His stints with his IPL franchise Delhi Daredevils help him in securing this no.4 spot, as he made a chunk of runs for the franchise. India will want Pant, more than anyone, to score a lot of runs.

#5 Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wk)

The stalwart of the Indian team will don the gloves for this home series against the Aussies. MS Dhoni made a comeback to the T20 side after being overlooked for Rishabh Pant. He could use every match from now to get his lost touch back before the World Cup.

#6 Dinesh Karthik

Dinesh Karthik needs another good performance

Dinesh Karthik has been proclaimed as the finisher for Team India. He has taken over the mantle from the great MS Dhoni. While he has been successful as a finisher, he has not performed well when it comes to building an innings, and this has ultimately cost him a place in the ODI setup for the series against Australia.

But it is not the end of the road for DK as far as World Cup is concerned, as he can do well in the 2-match T20 series as well as the IPL that follows.

#7 Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya has looked a better batsman after his comeback but was a tad unlucky when it comes to bowling in the batting friendly conditions of New Zealand, where many chances off his bowling went begging, and he went for many runs in the T20 series.

He will look to redeem himself in all aspects of the game.

#8 Krunal Pandya

The older Pandya brother has all but sealed a place for himself in T20 side after his all-around performance across both of India's recent tours. Krunal Pandya has so far bagged the Man of the match award twice in his short 9-match T20 career for India which is amazing, to say the least.

He and Dinesh Karthik almost sealed the game for India in the 3rd T20I but fell short. He will look to continue his good run in the team and do his chances no harm for the future.

#9 Umesh Yadav

Umesh Yadav will be once again making a comeback to the T20 setup after missing out in the last tour. There is a chance that a good showing here will make him the 4th pacer to go to the World Cup, as Khaleel Ahmed and Siraj have both been dropped from the side.

He will most likely replace Khaleel who played the last T20I against the Kiwis.

#10 Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah has quickly risen to prominence to become India's go-to man across all formats and it will no different here. His unique bowling action has paid rich dividends to him and along with Bhuvi who is rested for this series, they form one of the most dreaded opening bowling pairs in the world.

His slow knuckleballs and his lethal yorkers can deceive even the best batsmen. He is the pillar of Indian bowling attack and will be key in India's quest for a series win.

#11 Yuzvendra Chahal

Yuzuvendra Chahal will be under pressure to perform.

Mayank Markande might have to wait to make his much deserved T20I debut at least for the first match, as chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav has been given a rest and India will not want the spin department to be inexperienced.

Mayank could get a chance in the future, but Yuzvendra Chahal is a certainty for the first one.

Brand-new app in a brand-new avatar! Download Cric Rocket for fast cricket scores, rocket flicks, super notifications and much more!