AUS vs IND 2025: Ben McDermott added to Australia squad as standby player

The Australian men's team has had an update to their T20I squad for the series against India, as Ben McDermott has made a surprise entry into the set-up. Notably, McDermott has been added as a standby player to Matthew Short, who might be required to do a surgery on one of his fingers on the right hand, after facing bleeding while fielding during the ODI series.

During the second match of the recently-concluded series at the Adelaide Oval, Short had a severe cut on his finger while being stationed in the inner circle, as he attempted a catch during the Indian innings. He was taken off the field immediately, where he got some first aid and dressing done.

“Short suffered a severe cut on his right ring finger while attempting to take a catch off Josh Hazlewood during the second ODI against India in Adelaide,” a release on cricket.com.au read.

The Australian skipper Mitchell Marsh said that the changes in white-ball sides has become more complex due to the tight scheduling and matches occurring more frequently than before. According to Marsh, players are often jumbling between playing domestic cricket, while certain players undergo injury setbacks, enforcing a lot of updates to the original squads. But, he also feels that the teams have to be flexible with it.

“We do have guys coming in and out, but I think that's been the nature of the white-ball teams over the last couple of years, with the schedules and how busy it is. We've got some guys going back and playing Shield cricket, and certain guys coming back from injury. It's just about being really flexible with that. Everyone understands their role when they do come into the team, and that it's about being really clear on that,” Marsh told reporters on the eve of the game as quoted by cricket.com.au.

Australia squad for 1st and 2nd T20I vs India: Mitchell Marsh (captain), Travis Head, Matt Short, Ben McDermott, Tim David, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Owen, Sean Abbott, Josh Inglis, Josh Philippe, Xavier Bartlett, Adam Zampa, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Matthew Kuhnemann