Canberra: As India prepares to face Australia in the first of five T20 Internationals at Manuka Oval on Wednesday, October 29, all eyes will be on Suryakumar Yadav's form. The series is crucial preparation for both sides ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.
India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, will aim to start the series on a high note after their Asia Cup 2025 victory. However, Suryakumar's recent batting performance has been a concern, with no half-centuries in his last 14 innings. Despite his lean patch, Suryakumar's leadership and tactical acumen remain vital for the team. Since being appointed captain, Suryakumar has led India to 23 wins in 29 games, adopting a fearless approach.
"I feel like I've been working really hard," Suryakumar said in Canberra, acknowledging his slump. "It's not that I wasn't working hard before, I was doing it then also. I've had good sessions back home and good few sessions here so I am in good space, that is really important. Runs will come eventually but working hard towards the team goal is important".
India's batting lineup boasts considerable firepower, with Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill expected to open. The middle order includes Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Rinku Singh. The team's bowling attack will be spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah, with support from Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, and Varun Chakaravarthy.
Australia, captained by Mitchell Marsh, enters the series in good form, having won 26 of their last 32 T20Is. However, they will miss Glenn Maxwell for the first two games and Matthew Short is uncertain due to injury. Travis Head, Josh Inglis, and Tim David will be relied upon to provide middle-order explosiveness.
India has a superior head-to-head record against Australia in T20Is, with 20 wins in 32 matches. Australia has won 11 times, and one match ended in a draw. The last time these two sides clashed in the T20 format, India emerged victorious by 24 runs in a Super Eight match of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024.
The Manuka Oval pitch in Canberra is considered balanced, offering assistance to both batters and spinners. The average first innings score in recent years has been around 168. Teams prefer chasing at this venue, with dew often playing a significant role in night games.
The weather forecast for the match indicates a 25% chance of light rain with passing clouds, with a temperature around 15°C. The humidity is expected to be around 74%, which could favor the chasing team.
Both India and Australia have won eight of their last 10 T20I matches, indicating a closely contested series. While India had one tied game, Australia had one match washed out. This series presents an opportunity for both teams to fine-tune their strategies and team combinations ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026.
The match is scheduled to begin at 7:15 PM local time on October 29. In India, the match will start at 1:45 PM IST. Live telecast will be available on Star Sports Network channels, and live streaming will be on the JioHotstar app and website.
