Well-rounded India expected to pose tougher challenge to Australia in T20s

Washington Sundar, T Natarajan and Deepak Chahar give the Indian bowling attack some balance

Short of resources in ODIs, India will have enough options to choose from to pose a stiffer challenge to Australia when the two sides clash in a three-match T20 series beginning here on Friday.

The 1-2 ODI series loss reaffirmed that India have a lot of work to do in the 50-over format but they possess a much more balanced squad in the shortest format.

Before the pandemic suspended sporting activities around the world, India had blanked hosts New Zealand in a five-match series and they will be taking a lot of confidence out of that result into the contest against Australia.

The presence of Washington Sundar, Deepak Chahar and T Natarajan, who did well on his ODI debut on Wednesday, lends much-needed balance to the bowling department.

Sundar will be high on confidence after a solid IPL where the Royal Challengers Bangalore and India skipper Virat Kohli used him effectively in the powerplay and middle overs.

With Hardik Pandya not bowling regularly, India had only one specialist all-rounder in Ravindra Jadeja in the one-dayers.

However, in the T20s, Kohli will also have the services of Sundar in both departments and there is a possibility that Hardik can roll his arm over for a brief spell like he did in the second ODI.

Yorker specialist Natarajan, who was a late addition to the ODI squad, could also make his T20 debut on Friday having shown enough promise in his maiden international appearance.

Unlike the SCG, the Manuka Oval surface had enough for both the spinners and pacers. It will be interesting to see who opens the bowling alongside Jasprit Bumrah with the toss-up being between Mohammad Shami and Deepak Chahar.

Yuzvendra Chahal, who had a forgettable outing in the ODIs, will also be looking to bounce back.

In batting, K L Rahul, who batted at five in ODIs, is expected to go back to his preferred opening slot alongside Shikhar Dhawan.

The in-form wicketkeeper-batsman had also opened in the previous series against New Zealand and would be expected to bat the bulk of the 20 overs like he did so well in the IPL.

Skipper Kohli looked in good touch in the ODIs against the Aussies and will be aiming to build on that while number four Shreyas Iyer will be targetting big scores from great starts like he achieved in the three-match ODI series against the Kiwis earlier this year.

As Kohli mentioned, the win in the inconsequential third ODI was just the kind of result they needed ahead of the T20 series. Otherwise, the white-ball tour would have gotten that much harder.

Despite injury concerns, most of Australia's ODI squad will play the T20s and they would back themselves to beat India after a clinical display over the last week.

Star batsman David Warner is unavailable due to a groin injury and it remains to be seen if Marnus Labuschagne will open alongside skipper Aaron Finch on Friday like they both did one night ago. D'Arcy Short is another likely option for the opening slot.

Marcus Stoinis could have been a good opening option but he too is a doubtful starter due to a side injury that he suffered during the ODIs.

Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, who were rested on Wednesday, are expected to return to bolster the attack in the T20s.

The T20 squads:

India: Virat Kohli (captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain and wicketkeeper), Shikhar Dhawan, Mayank Agarwal, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Hardik Pandya, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Navdeep Saini, Deepak Chahar, T Natarajan.

Australia: Aaron Finch (captain), Pat Cummins (vice-captain), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey (wicketkeeper), Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Moises Henriques, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Daniel Sams, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade (wicketkeeper), D'Arcy Short, Adam Zampa, Andrew Tye.