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India won the toss and opted to bowl in the first T20 International against Australia. AP, PTI File Photo
India captain Virat Kohli won the toss and elected to bowl in the first Twenty20 international against Australia in Ranchi on Saturday.
The hosts, who recently clinched the one-day series against the Steve Smith-led side 4-1, have made two changes from their last ODI in Nagpur on Sunday.
Opener Shikhar Dhawan, who missed the ODIs to be with his ailing wife, and left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav make the cut for the first game of the three-match series.
"T20 is a format where you can't take any team lightly, let alone Australia who are really good," Kohli said at the toss.
Australia's stand-in captain David Warner said he is "honoured" to lead the T20 side after Smith had to fly back home to recover from a shoulder injury.
Left-arm quick Jason Behrendorff makes his international debut for the visitors. Allrounders Moises Henriques and Dan Christian also make the starting XI.
"Time to start fresh. Looks a great wicket, we've to come out and bat first and bat well," said Warner.
Teams
India: Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Australia: David Warner (captain), Aaron Finch, Glenn Maxwell, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Dan Christian, Tim Paine, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa, Jason Behrendorff
Umpires: Nitin Menon (IND) and Chettithody Shamshuddin (IND)
TV Umpire: Anil Chaudhary (IND)
Match Referee: Sir Richie Richardson (WIS)
The hosts, who recently clinched the one-day series against the Steve Smith-led side 4-1, have made two changes from their last ODI in Nagpur on Sunday.
Opener Shikhar Dhawan, who missed the ODIs to be with his ailing wife, and left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav make the cut for the first game of the three-match series.
"T20 is a format where you can't take any team lightly, let alone Australia who are really good," Kohli said at the toss.
Australia's stand-in captain David Warner said he is "honoured" to lead the T20 side after Smith had to fly back home to recover from a shoulder injury.
Left-arm quick Jason Behrendorff makes his international debut for the visitors. Allrounders Moises Henriques and Dan Christian also make the starting XI.
"Time to start fresh. Looks a great wicket, we've to come out and bat first and bat well," said Warner.
Teams
India: Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Australia: David Warner (captain), Aaron Finch, Glenn Maxwell, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Dan Christian, Tim Paine, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa, Jason Behrendorff
Umpires: Nitin Menon (IND) and Chettithody Shamshuddin (IND)
TV Umpire: Anil Chaudhary (IND)
Match Referee: Sir Richie Richardson (WIS)
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