Australia vs India 3rd T20I: Team news, probable XI, pitch report, weather forecast and where to watch

The margin of defeat might not reflect it but the second T20I between Australia and India was extremely one-sided. The visitors were unable to adjust to the extra pace and bounce of the Melbourne Cricket Ground surface with only Abhishek Sharma showing the stomach for a fight. A total of 125 was never going to be enough and while the Aussies lost six wickets, most of them fell after the game was virtually over.

 

Team news

 

Australia

 

It was a relatively comfortable win for the Aussies but they will want a lot more from their middle order as they get their preparations going for the T20 World Cup next year. Glenn Maxwell has been added to the squad for the final three games and should slot into the XI in place of Matthew Short.

 

Josh Hazlewood also gets a rest for the rest of the series and Adam Zampa is back in the squad although doubts remain over his participation as he and his wife are still awaiting the birth of their child. Young all-rounder Mahli Beardman is also added to the squad and might get a debut in one of the last three games.

 

India

 

Much like the ODI series, India have started slowly in the T20Is as well. However, their top order did look in great rhythm in the Canberra T20I before rain played spoilsport. At the MCG, though, the batters failed to adapt to the lively nature of the pitch and their one-dimensional approach with the bat backfired. Sharma was the only batter who used the conditions to his advantage.

 

One game is too early to make a change and with three matches left, India might be tempted to go with the XI in Hobart. They might think of adding an extra batter and get Shivam Dube to bowl a few overs. He was strangely not given a single over at the MCG. Should India want to make a change, Rinku Singh could come in for Axar Patel who also didn't bowl in the second T20I. Arshdeep Singh may also get a game.

 

Probable XI

 

Australia: Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh(c), Josh Inglis(wk), Tim David, Mitch Owen, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Xavier Bartlett, Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Matthew Kuhnemann

 

India: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson(wk), Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh/Axar Patel, Harshit Rana/Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah

 

Weather forecast

 

A reasonably hot day awaits in Hobart with temperatures expected to be in the mid-20s. Moderate humidity levels are on the horizon and there are negligble chances of rain.

 

Pitch report

 

Average score batting first in T20s at the Bellerive Oval is only 147 but evening games have traditionally been high-scoring with the ball coming on nicely to the bat. Dew has also been a constant factor but statistically, toss hasn't been much of a factor. Australia smashed 213 against West Indies in 2024 although that game happened later in the season.

 

Where to watch

 

The Australia-India T20Is are being telecast on the Star Sports Network while the streaming rights are with JioHotstar.

 

Sports