India and Australia are preparing to face one other in a five-match T20I series only days after their fight in the 2023 ODI World Cup final. The two teams have already played three bilateral series this year, including ODIs and Tests, and the forthcoming series will jumpstart their preparations for the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Both teams have chosen reserve line-ups for the task. Despite missing some star players, the series is a great chance for lesser-known participants to shine. The teams are mixed, with newcomers aiming for a strong start and others hoping to stand out.
Overall, this upcoming series is likely a last shot for some players to show their worth. With that said, let’s focus on five players for whom the IND vs AUS T20I series could be pivotal.
1. Kane Richardson
The right-arm pacer played in Australia’s last league-stage match against Afghanistan in the T20 World Cup 2022. The fact that Australia hasn’t played any T20Is since then hasn’t helped his cause. However, Australian pacers on the fringes always have something to prove across formats, with the pace three of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc showing no signs of slowing down.
Furthermore, with newcomers like Spencer Johnson and Aaron Hardie vying for a spot, Kane Richardson is in a difficult situation.
Richardson had a dismal 2022 in general when it came to Australia’s shortest format. While he had a decent 15-wicket return from nine matches, his economy rate was 9.41. In four of his nine outings, he allowed more than 44 runs in a period.
The pacer’s most recent experience in the shortest format was in the Hundred 2023, when he took six wickets in seven matches for the Birmingham Phoenix at an economy rate of 9.79.
2. Shreyas Iyer
Shreyas Iyer’s status as a long-format hitter has grown with time, but he has yet to establish himself as a first-choice T20I batter. He had a productive series against Sri Lanka at No. 3 in 2022, but has not been efficient further down the order and has also been left out of the squad for the T20 World Cup 2022.
Shreyas Iyer has since played the away series against New Zealand, but has only scored 13 and 0. Due to injuries, he will also miss the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL).
Shreyas Iyer will play in the next two matches of the series against Australia, but they will be crucial for him. With middle-order hitters like Tilak Varma and others making strong cases, Shreyas Iyer has to be at his best if he wants to play in the T20 World Cup in 2024.
If Virat Kohli is not selected for the shortest format, Shreyas Iyer has a good chance of securing a spot at No. 3 or No. 4 in the batting order.
Beginning with the T20I series against Australia, Shreyas Iyer can build a case for subsequent short format assignments that will eventually lead to a spot in the T20 World Cup despite missing out in 2021 and 2022.
3. Avesh Khan
Since 2022, the right-arm pacer has come a long way. He has only played one T20I after being ruled out of the 2022 Asia Cup, which occurred at the 2023 Asian Games. He also did not have a spectacular IPL season, owing to injury. Avesh Khan took eight wickets in nine matches for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at an economy rate of 9.76.
Even in the just concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Madhya Pradesh, he was far from his best. He took three wickets in five matches but has to improve significantly if he is to continue in Team India’s plans.
In the forthcoming series, Avesh will have to be at his best to fight against the likes of Arshdeep Singh and Mukesh Kumar.
4. Washington Sundar
The issues with the all-rounder recently aren’t about a dip in performance. They’re about bodily harm. He’s suffered lots of injuries in the past few years. This has led to an inconsistent international career with many interruptions.
Washington Sundar has been groomed for huge things across formats, particularly if Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja decide to retire. Sundar, on the other hand, requires a sustained run of games with impactful appearances.
With Ravi Bishnoi and Kuldeep Yadav in fine form, Sundar would have to compete with Axar Patel and other spin-bowling all-rounders for a spot in the team.
Sundar played in the home T20I series against New Zealand, the away series against Ireland, and the Asian Games in 2023. He has, however, only taken five wickets in seven appearances. With an economy rate of 6.30, he appears to be an excellent defensive choice.
5. Steve Smith
David Warner’s withdrawal from the next series presents Steve Smith with a fantastic chance to establish himself as a T20I opener. For the T20 World Cup in 2022, the star batter was benched since he has never been able to establish himself in the shortest format.
He impressed many with his performances as an opener for the Sydney Sixers in the 2022-23 Big Bas League (BBL). Smith was set to begin Australia’s innings in the away series against South Africa, but a late injury forced the plan to be canceled.
Smith, on the other hand, will not have many chances to show himself at the top, since Travis Head, Matthew Short, David Warner, and, to a lesser extent, Cameron Green are all in competition for Australia’s top two berths in the T20 World Cup 2024.
