“We want to play like this and move forward,” skipper Rohit Sharma sounded confident after India’s blazing display with the bat against Bangladesh. After the 50-run win over the Bangla Tigers on Saturday, India’s batting and bowling have almost joined the same party, as the likes of Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube have started to find a place in the middle of the bat in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024.
On the other hand, the Indian bowling unit led by Jasprit Bumrah has dominated the tournament and has taken a total of 43 wickets so far. Apart from this, the inclusion of Kuldeep Yadav in the starting XI has strengthened the team combination.
Now, with two thumping wins, India have almost sealed their place in the semi-finals. But, before they move on, the Indian team will have to face a tough challenge in the form of Australia in their final Super Eight match on June 24 at the Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, St Lucia.
In the match between India and Australia, captain Rohit Sharma will have to take a big decision considering the cloudy weather and possibility of rain in Antigua. Ahead of this exciting match, let’s take a look at India’s probable playing XI against Australia.
India’s probable XI against Australia
Rohit Sharma(Captain)
Skipper Rohit Sharma smashed a 97-meter long six off Shakib Al Hasan, which meant that the Hitman was set for a big innings against Bangladesh. But, the opener walked back to the dressing room after scoring 23 runs off 11 balls.
However, Rohit has managed to score 99 runs in five innings at a strike rate of 125.31 in this T20 World Cup, including an unbeaten 52 against Ireland. Rohit has scored 392 runs in 19 innings against Australia in T20 Internationals and will look to continue his dominance on Monday as well.
Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli scoring just 66 runs after five innings in the T20 World Cup is something cricket fans cannot easily digest, considering the star batsman has won the Player of the Tournament award twice in a row in 2014 and 2016 respectively.
Kohli has struggled with the bat in the middle order, especially in the USA leg of the competition. The former skipper is expected to score 61 runs in the last two matches played in the Caribbean and will be eager to attack the Australian bowlers when he faces them in St Lucia on Monday.
Rishabh Pant(Wicketkeeper)
Rishabh Pant’s IPL 2024 campaign made him the first-choice wicketkeeper in India’s starting XI for the T20 World Cup 2024. The star wicketkeeper-batsman has set the ongoing T20 tournament on fire with the bat, scoring 152 runs in five innings at an average of 38.
The left-handed batsman is currently the leading run-scorer for India in the competition and can prove to be the X-factor against Australia.
Suryakumar Yadav
India’s middle order has been strengthened in this tournament thanks to Suryakumar Yadav’s consecutive half-centuries against the USA and Afghanistan. His unconventional approach to batting at No. 4 provides both aggression and stability to India’s batting.
The world’s No. 1 T20 batsman has scored 118 runs in five innings at a strike rate of 129.67. When India take on Australia on Monday, Indian fans would want SKY to continue his excellent form against Australia as well.
shivam dubey
Shivam Dube’s inclusion in India’s 15-man T20 World Cup squad prevented Rinku Singh from playing the World Cup for India. But, Dube’s IPL 2024 campaign caught the selectors’ attention, where he scored 396 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of 162.29.
Surprisingly, Dube is one of the Indian batsmen who are struggling to score runs in the ongoing T20 World Cup. However, the left-handed batsman has scored 78 runs in five innings. His form with the bat will be crucial when India take on Australia on Monday.
hardik pandya
Hardik Pandya did not do well in IPL 2024 as captain with Mumbai Indians and was also embroiled in several controversies amid the team’s disappointing performance. His participation in the T20 World Cup as India’s vice-captain ahead of the ICC event was also a topic of discussion.
The star all-rounder is expected to make a stunning comeback, scoring 89 runs in three innings at an impressive strike rate of 141.26 and picking up eight wickets in the bowling department.
ravindra jadeja
Star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has not been a favourite player for India in the ongoing T20 World Cup. However, his all-round ability and his vast experience in the international circuit cannot be ignored.
The left-handed batsman has scored only seven runs in two innings and taken just one wicket so far in the tournament. Needless to say, Jadeja would want to live up to expectations against Australia.
Axar Patel
Bowling allrounder Axar Patel has contributed significantly to India’s success in the T20 World Cup, scoring 35 runs and taking four wickets in three innings.
Axar also had a good outing in IPL 2024, taking 11 wickets in 14 matches for Delhi Capitals at an economy of 7.65. The left-arm spinner has brought successes for India in tandem with bowlers like Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav and can also prove to be a useful option with the bat against Australia.
Kuldeep Yadav
Kuldeep has become one of the best leg-spinners in the world, taking 64 wickets in 37 T20Is for India. The left-arm chinaman bowler has taken five wickets in just two matches to carry his IPL 2024 success to the T20 World Cup.
In his last appearance in the tournament, he took three wickets against Bangladesh and is expected to take wickets against Australia as well.
Jasprit Bumrah
With an impressive economy rate of 3.42 and 10 wickets in five matches, Jasprit Bumrah is currently enjoying his best T20 World Cup campaign.
Bumrah was also in his best form in IPL 2024, taking 20 wickets for Mumbai Indians. He has also led India’s fast bowling in this tournament and would be looking to take wickets in the match against Australia batsmen in St Lucia on Monday.
Arshdeep Singh
Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh has been the main destroyer for India, especially in the early and final stages of the innings.
With an economy of 7.05 and 12 wickets, Arshdeep is currently India’s leading wicket-taker in the tournament. The star pacer will look to continue his good form against the strong Australian side on Monday.
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