AUS vs IND: Live Streaming, Match Preview, Timings, Pitch Report & more for 3rd T20I

“Character” and “intent” are terms that the Indian skipper is seen voicing often. And he does not throw them around just like that, but his personality oozes these virtues. And not just their leader but contemporary Indian team too is the possessor of such qualities. After two crushing defeats, it is such virtues that make teams bounce back the way India has.

The victory at Canberra witnessed India defend 161 whereas, at Sydney, they chased 195 with a couple of balls left to play. There is a sense of déjà vu in the series as India’s tour of Australia in 2016 unfolded identically when India was rolled over in the ODIs before coming back staunchly in the shortest format of the game to uproot the Aussies 3-0.

India’s victory at Sydney was orchestrated by some heavy-hitting of Hardik Pandya towards the end, and India must take heart from the fact that all the players have stood up and answered the calls for the team. No Rohit Sharma? A blisteringly in-form KL Rahul stood up to fill the void. An injured Manish Pandey? Shreyas Iyer came to the front to deliver the goods. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami rested? A new man from the blocks of a remote village in Southern India took the charge.

“Special mention to Natarajan as well. I thought he should be the Man of the Match because the bowlers struggled here and he had a really good game,” stated an elated Hardik Pandya after the win at Sydney. And it is in this sense that the Indians have shown character and intent. That said, the injuries to some major players in the opponent squad has induced some parity as Australians, too, have been without the services of David Warner, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and even Aaron Finch and Josh Hazlewood missed out the last encounter.

Only twice in the past has Australia faced a whitewash at home – against India in 2016 and against Pakistan in 2018. With the series in their possession and soaring confidence, India must be backing themselves to add one more instance into that list when they come out at the Sydney Cricket Ground tomorrow for the final encounter.

Pitch and conditions

The SCG was no different come the shortest format after it recorded loads of runs in the first two ODIs. The shorter side-boundary has been well exploited by the batsmen and the bowlers have bore the brunt on even the slightest miss. The expectation will be, once again, of another high-scoring encounter.

Playing Combinations for AUS vs IND

Australia

Coach Justin Langer sounded hopeful about Aaron Finch coming into the side for the final T20I after he missed the last game due to an injury. In case Finch manages to be fit enough, D’Arcy Short will have to pave way for him. The skipper will be followed by the regulars in the middle-order. It seems unlikely that Australia would want to risk any of their Test-playing members, and therefore the bowling unit should remain unchanged.

Probable XI: Matthew Wade (C & WK), D’Arcy Short/Aaron Finch, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Moises Henriques, Marcus Stoinis, Daniel Sams, Sean Abbott, Mitchell Swepson/Nathan Lyon, Adam Zampa, Andrew Tye

Bench: Josh Hazlewood, Alex Carey, Aaron Finch/D’Arcy Short, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon/ Mitchell Swepson

India

With the series won, India would not be willing to bring in any of the major players who were rested in the last game. As the focus will now shift to the arduous Test series waiting ahead, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami are better rested, as Shardul Thakur and T Natarajan will form the pace attack. It remains to be seen whether Manish Pandey could make himself fit enough for the last game. India might play Navdeep Saini ahead of Deepak Chahar after the latter’s lackluster show with the ball in the last game.

Probable XI: KL Rahul (WK), Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli (C), Sanju Samson, Shreyas Iyer/Manish Pandey, Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, Deepak Chahar/Navdeep Saini, Yuzvendra Chahal, Shardul Thakur, T Natarajan

Bench: Mayank Agarwal, Navdeep Saini/ Deepak Chahar, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Manish Pandey/Shreyas Iyer

AUS vs IND Head-to-Head

Overall

Played – 22 | Australia Won – 8 | India Won – 13 | Tie/NR – 1

In Australia

Played – 11 | Australia Won – 3 | India Won – 7 | NR – 1

AUS vs IND Broadcast Details

Match timings – 01:40 PM (IST); 07:10 PM (Local)

TV – Sony SIX Network

Live Streaming – Sony LIV