The Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian side clinched the T20I series against Australia by securing a decisive victory in the last match held in Raipur, establishing an unassailable 3-1 lead.
Although the series winner has been determined, the upcoming dead rubber match at Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday promises to be a high-scoring spectacle, presenting a formidable challenge for the bowlers as both teams boast powerhouse batting line-ups and relatively less experienced bowling units.
Despite missing key players who were granted days off after the recent conclusion of the ODI World Cup 2023, both India and Australia have successfully captivated fans with their compelling performances throughout the series.
Matthew Wade‘s Australian team, particularly after the departure of Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis, and Adam Zampa mid-series, appears less formidable. In contrast, the host team, India, remains rock solid, featuring a well-balanced mix of seasoned players and emerging talents.
What have they done so far?
The series opener at Visakhapatnam unfolded with a breathtaking knock by Inglis, who smashed 110 runs off just 50 balls. However, Suryakumar, Ishan Kishan, and Rinku Singh, through their collective prowess, turned Inglis’ century into a futile effort, successfully chasing down the formidable target of 209.
Moving on to the second match in Thiruvananthapuram, it proved to be another high-scoring encounter as India posted a formidable total of 235 runs, propelled by fifties from the top three batsmen and finishing touches from Rinku. The hosts went on to defend the total convincingly, securing a one-sided victory by 44 runs.
Despite Ruturaj Gaikwad’s century heroics in the third match, India couldn’t secure the win as the Men in Blue succumbed to the onslaught led by Glenn Maxwell in Guwahati. Maxwell’s match-winning 104-run knock kept Australia alive in the series.
India sealed the series 3-1 in Raipur with one match to go
In the fourth T20I, Australia had the chance to level the series by chasing down India’s target of 175 runs. However, the Men in Yellow stumbled against the Indian spinners, failing to make an impact with their batting. India successfully restricted the visitors to 154 runs, clinching the match by a 20-run margin.
Head to Head Record
In the 30 T20I encounters between India and Australia, the Men in Blue hold a commanding edge with 18 victories, outshining the 2021 T20I World Cup Champions who have notched up 11 wins. Additionally, one match resulted in a no result due to rain.
Delving into matches held in India, the dominance of the Men in Blue extends, having clinched 8 victories compared to the Men in Yellow, who have secured 4 wins in this setting, including one win in this ongoing series.
Key Players
Ruturaj Gaikwad (India): Gaikwad, India’s leading run-scorer in the ongoing series, poses a formidable threat to Australia in the upcoming dead rubber match on Sunday. His impressive tally of 213 runs in the last four matches, at an average of 71 and a lightning strike rate of 166.41, underscores his batting prowess. The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium’s small boundaries and batsman-friendly pitch further amplify Gaikwad’s potential impact.
Gaikwad scored an unbeaten 123 runs off 57 balls in the Third T20I at Guwahati
Notably, he stands just 18 runs away from surpassing Virat Kohli’s record for the most runs in a T20I bilateral series for India, set against England in 2021. In the recent 4th T20I in Raipur, Gaikwad also secured the title of the Fastest Indian to reach 4000 T20 runs, eclipsing KL Rahul’s previous record.
Travis Head (Australia): On the other hand, the year 2023 has proven exceptional for Travis Head. Set to showcase his prowess at Bengaluru, the left-handed batter’s aggressive batting style promises to challenge the vulnerable Indian bowling lineup.
Having rested for the initial two matches, Head showcased impactful innings in the 3rd and 4th matches, contributing 35 and 31 runs respectively at an impressive strike rate of 194.44 and 193.75, albeit falling short of converting starts into fifties. His presence promises to test the resilience of the Indian bowling lineup.
Predicted Playing XIs
India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav ©, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar.
Australia: Josh Phillippe, Travis Head, Ben McDermott, Aaron Hardie, Tim David, Matt Short, Matthew Wade © (wk), Ben Dwarshuis, Chris Green, Jason Behrendorff, Tanveer Sangha
Prediction
Despite India’s less-than-ideal track record at Chinnaswamy, including three losses in five T20I matches, they remain the favorites to clinch the series with another victory. Australia’s weakened lineup, missing key players, may prove detrimental in this match, reminiscent of their previous encounter.
For success, the team batting first should target a score of 200 or more, considering the ground’s favorable conditions for chasing. While India appears formidable on paper, the unique dimensions of the ground leave room for the possibility of Australia’s power hitters making a significant impact.