IND vs AUS 2023: India's best possible playing XI for T20I series

India will take on Australia for a five-match T20I series starting from November 23.

Team India will be playing a five-match T20I series against Australia starting on November 23. ACA-VDCA Stadium in Vishakhapatnam will be hosting the first game of the series. Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to give rest to their senior members of the World Cup squad and will be entering the series with youngsters. Suryakumar Yadav has been named skipper of India team and will be on his first assignment as Indian team skipper. 

With the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 just around the corner, team India will be trying new faces with the opportunities coming ahead. Only Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan have been retained for the T20I series against Australia from the World Cup squad. Yuzvendra Chahal and Sanju Samson have been ignored for the upcoming series. Let’s have a look at the possible Indian playing XI that will face Australia in the next two weeks.

Here’s the best possible playing XI of India:

1. Ishan Kishan :

Part of Indian cricket camp for the World Cup 2023, wicket-keeper Ishan Kishan will be taking up the role of an opener. Kishan did a fantastic job as a top-order batter in West Indies series and scored three consecutive 50-plus scores in the ODI series. Kishan will be given a long run as an opener, as there is no clear sign of Rohit Sharma’s availability in this format.

2. Ruturaj Gaikwad :

Ruturaj Gaikwad had a wonderful Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign for Maharashtra. He smashed a century against Vidarbha and an 82-run knock against Bengal in Mohali. Gaikwad will be playing as an opener along with Ishan Kishan against Australia in the five-match T20I series. Gaikwad led India to gold medal glory in the Asian Games 2023.

3. Tilak Varma :

Left-hand batter Tilak Varma has become a rising star for Indian cricket team with his splendid show with the bat. Tilak has played 10 T20I games so far, scored 231 runs at an average of 38.50, and smashed 2 half-centuries. Tilak Varma also had a magnificent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (2023–24) and smashed an unbeaten ton against Baroda. Tilak will be India’s No. 3 in the top-order.

4. Suryakumar Yadav (C) :

Suryakumar Yadav will be back in his most beloved format of the game. India’s T20 sensation, Suryakumar Yadav, will be leading Indian side for the first time in his career. Surya had a dismal ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 campaign as a batter and scored only 106 runs in 7 innings. This will be a massive opportunity for Suryakumar Yadav as skipper, and he will be taking up the role of number 4 batter.

5. Rinku Singh :

Rinku Singh became superstar for team India with his Indian Premier League (IPL) performances in the previous two seasons. Rinku Singh’s chase against Gujarat Titans earned him a national call-up, and he has played five T20I games for India so far scoring 75 runs in two innings. Rinku Singh also had a terrific outing for Uttar Pradesh in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2023–24 season.

6. Jitesh Sharma (WK) :

As part of India’s glorious campaign in Asian Games 2023, Jitesh Sharma has been given another opportunity in the five-match T20I series against Australia. Jitesh will be taking up the roles of wicket-keeper and middle-order batter in Indian playing XI. Jitesh has played three T20I games so far and scored only five runs.

7. Axar Patel :

Spin bowling all-rounder Axar Patel missed the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 campaign due to a hamstring injury which he sustained during Asia Cup 2023. Axar Patel will be making his comeback in the five-match T20I series against Australia and will be taking up the key role of lower-order batter and left-arm spinner. Patel has played 45 T20I games and picked up 39 wickets.

8. Arshdeep Singh :

Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh has become an integral part of India’s playing XI in the T20I format. Arshdeep has been a consistent performer for India in this format and will be taking up the lead role in India’s pace attack against Australia. Arshdeep Singh has played 36 T20I games for India and has taken 54 wickets so far in his career.

9. Ravi Bishnoi :

With Yuzvendra Chahal ousted from Indian camp, Ravi Bishnoi has now become the lead figure in Indian spin bowling attack as a leg spinner. Kuldeep Yadav has also been rested for the five-match T20I series against Australia, and this will allow Ravi to lead India’s spin-bowling attack. Bishnoi has taken 25 wickets in 16 T20Is so far.

10. Prasidh Krishna :

Prasidh Krishna will be a crucial player for team India in the upcoming T20I series against Australia. Krishna made his comeback after an injury against Ireland just before Asia Cup 2023 tournament. This was his first assignment as a T20I player, and he picked up four wickets in two games. Krishna will be looking to grab this opportunity to make his name in the T20 World Cup squad next year.

11. Mukesh Kumar :

Mukesh Kumar made his international debut against West Indies in July 2023. He played one test, three ODIs, and five T20I games for India on that tour and made his debut in all three formats in just one tour. Mukesh Kumar will be part of the upcoming five-match T20I series against Australia. Mukesh Kumar has played five T20I games and picked up three wickets.

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