India’s much-awaited tour of Australia is finally scheduled to commence from 27th November 2020. This will mark India’s first international outing since the global Coronavirus outbreak. The series will consist of three ODIs and T20s each, followed by four Test matches. A 32-member Indian squad has been assembled to take on the Aussies in their own backyard as fans look forward to a competitive content between the two heavyweights of International cricket.
Australia vs India: ODI series
India are currently the 2nd ranked ODI team in the world. However, the “Men in Blue” will be in the absence of their season-starter Rohit Sharma. If KL Rahul continues to bat at number 5, we can expect Mayank Agarwal to pair-up with Shikhar Dhawan at the top. It will be interesting to see how Agarwal fares in the limited-over format against such a formidable opponent.
India’s bowling looks fairly solid with the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Shami appearing fit and running in at full steam. Navdeep Saini would want to cement his spot as the third seamer in the attack. The pitches in Australia would aid his style of bowling. Spin twins Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal would like to team up once again and expose the opposition’s travail of handling quality wrist spin. Bhuvneshwar Kumar is out of India’s squad after picking a thigh muscle injury in Dream11 IPL 2020.
India have not played as a unit since the outbreak of Coronavirus in the world which gives Australia an upper-hand against the Blues considering their recent series against England in September this year. However, Virat Kohli and the team will be backing themselves to emerge victorious despite all the odds.
Australia vs India: T20 Series
The T20 team bereft of Rohit Sharma’s experience still looks in quite a good shape with many of the names in the squad having had a quality IPL behind them. Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, and Sanju Samson will seemingly like to stake a permanent claim in the playing XI. KL Rahul will return to the opening slot in the absence of Rohit Sharma. Agarwal may get a look in the opening position if Dhawan fails to show his mantle in the first couple of games.
The bowling personnel looks sharp with the addition of Deepak Chahar and T. Natarajan to the squad. Chahar and Natarajan’s inclusion provides extra inches in India’s solid bowling dept. It will be interesting to see whether Hardik Pandya bowls for India considering his long-term back injury. And if not then how would they cope in the absence of his bowling services.
The leadership of Virat Kohli in the limited-overs leg will be the focal point. Since many fans and experts believe that Rohit Sharma should now take over the captaincy in the shorter formats. T20 series promises to be an even contest and there is little to separate between the two teams.
Australia vs India: Test Series
The main challenge for the Indians during their tour of Australia will quite naturally arrive during their four-match test series. With Virat Kohli scheduled to play just the pink ball test match at Adelaide, the Indian team surely has a task in hands against the number 1 ranked Australians.
The extra bounce and carry which the pitches in Australia offer can be counterproductive for the batsmen at times. This is going to be a crucial test of character for Prithvi Shaw. He was completely at sea against the moving ball in the 2nd half of the IPL. Mayank Agarwal who had earlier tasted success in his debut series in Australia will hope to repeat that feat. Much of India’s batting muscle would rest on the shoulders of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane.
The bowling department would dearly like to have a fit and raring Ishant Sharma back in their squad. If he is unable to join the squad in time, the entire onus would completely fall on the shoulders of Shami and Bumrah. Mohammad Siraj and Navdeep Saini could just have a breakthrough season if provided with an opportunity.
Virat Kohli loves leading from the front especially when it comes to facing the Aussies at their turf. With Rahane expected to lead the Test team in Kohli’s absence (for 3 test matches) it would be pretty interesting to see what tactics Indians employ to counter the marauding Aussies.
Expect nothing less than a blockbuster cricketing summer down under!
