Australia has made a change to their T20I squad ahead of the five-match series against India, with leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha drafted in to replace Adam Zampa, who will miss the start of the series due to personal reasons. The decision comes as Zampa’s wife, Harriet, is expecting their second child, making him unavailable for the opening games beginning October 29 in Canberra.
The star leg spinner's absence will be a significant blow to Australia, considering his status as the team’s leading wicket-taker
in T20Is with 131 wickets in 106 matches at an average of 21.38. Zampa has been in good form, recently earning a Player of the Match performance in the Adelaide ODI earlier this month. However, family commitments have led to his short-term withdrawal, creating an opportunity for Sangha.
The 23-year-old, who represents Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League, has already shown moments of brilliance. The young leggie made headlines on his T20I debut against South Africa in 2023, where he picked up 4 for 31. Although he has featured in only seven T20Is so far, registered 10 wickets at an average of 24.90 in the format.
His recent form led to his selection. He was the standout performer during the Australia A tour of India, claiming seven wickets in three one-day games. Meanwhile, he is currently leading the Marsh One-Day Cup wicket charts with 10 wickets in four matches for New South Wales. The conditions in India are expected to assist spin, which could allow Sangha to pair up with left-arm spinner Matt Kuhnemann to form a dual-spin attack.
Notably, Australia has different combinations for this series. Josh Hazlewood will feature in the first two matches before returning to Sheffield Shield duties, while Sean Abbott will be available for the first three games. The selectors have also included 20-year-old Mahli Beardman, the fast bowler from Western Australia, who could make his T20I debut later in the series. Beardman was a standout performer in the 2024 U19 World Cup final, where he earned the Player of the Match award for his spell of 3/15 against India.
Australia T20I squad vs India:
Mitchell Marsh (C), Sean Abbott (first three matches only), Glenn Maxwell (last three matches), Xavier Bartlett, Mahli Beardman (last three matches only), Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis (last two matches only), Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood (first two matches only), Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Matthew Kuhnemann, Mitchell Owen, Josh Philippe (wk), Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa (to miss start of series)
Australia vs India 2025 T20I Schedule:
| Match | Dates | Time | Venue |
| 1st T20I | October 29 | 1:45 pm IST |
Manuka Oval, Canberra
|
| 2nd T20I | October 31 | 1:45 pm IST |
Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
|
| 3rd T20I | November 02 | 1:45 pm IST |
Bellerive Oval, Hobart
|
| 4th T20I | November 06 | 1:45 pm IST |
Bill Pippen Oval, Gold Coast
|
| 5th T20I | November 08 | 1:45 pm IST |
The Gabba, Brisbane
|
