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The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is just over a month away, and every cricket match from here on out will be an opportunity for teams to prepare and find their best combination of players for the World Cup.
The reigning T20 champions, and this year’s World Cup host, Australia, will begin their tour of India for a three-match T20 series on September 20, allowing both teams a chance to test their mettle against quality opposition and build momentum for the upcoming World Cup.
Let’s take a quick look at what we can expect from this series.
THE REIGNING T20 CHAMPIONS
Winning the last World Cup certainly boosted the Aussie camp’s confidence, and they’ve carried that spirit through their recent performances. After their T20 World Cup triumph in 2021, Australia registered series wins against the current Asian Cup champions, Sri Lanka, winning 4-1 and 2-1 at home and away, respectively. They also got a taste of victory against Pakistan in a one-off T20 game last April, and defeated the Kiwis in their most recent ODI series, further cementing their reputation as formidable opponents.
Australia does, however, perceive the Indian team as a veritable threat. After all, they haven’t had much success against India in the recent past. The last time they met, Australia suffered a 1-2 series defeat on their home turf. India also beat them convincingly in their World Cup warm-up match.
In terms of their squad, some of Australia’s key players will be sitting out this tour. David Warner has been resting to stay fresh, and Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Marsh, and Mitchell Starc have all suffered injuries that precludes them from participation. Luckily for Australia, star player T im David will join their World Cup squad. Some new players are also expected to join the Australian team before the T20 series and compete against a quality India side.
INDIA READY TO BOUNCE BACK
It’s no secret that India’s latest performance in the Asia Cup didn’t bode well for them. But there was a silver lining: Virat Kohli inarguably demonstrated his return to form. Kohli scored a couple of half-centuries against Pakistan and Hong Kong, as well as a scintillating century against Afghanistan, which marked Kohli’s 71st century after 1,020 days. His return to form will be crucial for India, if they’re to succeed against Australia in this next series.
In another instance of good luck, India’s Jasprit Bumrah and Harshap Patel have recovered from their recent injuries and will return to the squad after sitting out multiple games. Their return will bolster the bowling unit, which underperformed in the Asia Cup and was likely the cause for India’s downfall.
Mohammed Shami will also return to the squad after a long absence – he last featured for India in the 2021 edition of the World Cup against Namibia. Although he hasn’t made the cut for the World Cup squad, spectators will be interested to see what he brings to the team for this next series.
The rest of the Indian squad is primed and raring to face off against Australia. The series will also give Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid ample opportunity to identify the best combination of players for the World Cup.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Going into this next T20 series, Australia is sure to be hyped up on confidence, while India is planning to make a great show with a major comeback. Both teams will be glad to have another opportunity to prepare for the World Cup.
Although Australia seems to be entering the series with an advantage, a quick look at their past games against India should be enough to take them down a couple of pegs. The two teams have met on 23 occasions, with India winning 13 of the games and Australia nine. With their current squad depth and track record, India seems to have the edge and is entering as favorites.
Tune into Sling to catch India vs. Australia in their three-match T20 series – LIVE on Willow TV, starting September 20.