Following a defeat in the three-match ODI series against Australia, Team India will look to be at their best under Suryakumar Yadav’s captaincy in the five-match T20I series. The opening T20I will be played
on October 29 at Manuka Oval and the Men in Blue will look to beat the hosts and start the series on the winning track. The current T20 World Cup champions looked in amazing touch in the Asia Cup 2025 and they will be expected to do the same in the series Down Under as well. As the first T20I is only a day away, SportsTiger has come up with India’s probable XI.
India's Probable Playing XI for 1st T20I vs Australia
Openers: Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma
Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma will get the responsibility to deliver a fierce start to the team as openers. In the Asia Cup 2025, Abhishek hammered bowlers mercilessly and he will be expected to continue his form. Shubman, who made a comeback in the T20I format after 14 months during the Asia Cup, struggled to be among the runs. The 26-year-old will look to stand tall against Australia’s bowling attack.
Middle-order batters: Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (wk), and Rinku Singh
Suryakumar Yadav will have to lead the side from the front. The 35-year-old won the Asia Cup title as captain but his batting performance was miserable in the continental tournament. With 72 runs in six innings of seven matches, he attracted criticism for his disheartening numbers.
Tilak Varma starred with his bat in the final of the Asia Cup 2025 against Pakistan, hammering 69* off 53. The southpaw’s job will be to solidify India’s batting attack. Sanju Samson will also be crucial with his gloves and bat. His aggressive batting style is expected to deliver crucial runs to the team. Rinku Singh might be handed the task to play the role of finisher.
All-rounders: Shivam Dube and Axar Patel
In the absence of veteran Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube has to step up and deliver impactful numbers with both bat and ball. Axar Patel’s role will be to reinforce the spin-bowling unit as a bowler while with the bat, he might be sent in the upper middle-order to tackle pressure situations.
Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Kuldeep Yadav
Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh might be seen bolstering India’s fast-bowling unit with Shivam Dube. Manuka Oval is known for assisting pacers so India might give the opportunity to Arshdeep to support veteran Bumrah and Dube. Kuldeep Yadav might be given the job to support Axar to form a spin-bowling duo.
