India Seeks Redemption as Australia Faces Off Without Hazlewood in 3rd T20I
With Josh Hazlewood absent, the Indian batters aim for an improved performance against Australia, though Arshdeep Singh’s continued exclusion remains puzzling as the third T20I approaches on Sunday.
Hazlewood, known for his precision and unsettling bounce, is taking a break before the Ashes’ five-Test series, leaving the T20I series early.
Indian opener Abhishek Sharma commented on the challenge of facing Hazlewood’s bowling after the Melbourne match, admitting relief at not facing him.
Without Hazlewood, Indian batters may feel more confident against bowlers like Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, or Sean Abbott.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill have struggled with deliveries that offer extra bounce and seam movement, hoping to replicate their successful strategies from the series’ opening match in Canberra.
ALSO READ: Batters surprised by extra bounce, says Abhishek Sharma
At Hobart’s Bellerive Oval, where the side boundaries are notably smaller, maintaining a good length will be crucial, as anything too short could be sent flying over the fence.
The venue is a familiar ground for pacer Nathan Ellis, who leads the Hobart Hurricanes in the BBL.
The Indian team’s focus on deep batting has been contentious, with recent batting struggles, like the 125 total at the MCG, questioning its effectiveness.
Despite the conditions favoring extra bounce, India opted for three spinners, sidelining Arshdeep Singh, India’s only bowler with 100 T20I wickets. Instead, Harshit Rana played, scoring 35 runs from 33 balls with three fours and a six.
Statistics show that India’s No. 8 batter in recent games has typically faced only a few balls per inning, prompting scrutiny over the necessity of extended batting depth.
Head coach Gambhir values Harshit in the lineup, despite his inconsistent bowling, suggesting he’ll remain a fixture in the team.
However, at Hobart, where open areas could enhance swing bowling, India might consider fielding Arshdeep by reducing their spin options.
Squads
Australia: Mitchell Marsh (c), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Mahli Beardman, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Glenn Maxwell, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Mitchell Owen, Josh Philippe, Tanveer Sangha, Matthew Short, and Marcus Stoinis.
India: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Arshdeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar.
Published on Nov 01, 2025
Post Comment