Raipur, November 6 — With the five-match T20 International series poised at 1-1, Team India prepares to capitalize on a depleted Australian squad in the upcoming fourth T20I scheduled for Thursday. All eyes will be on vice-captain Shubman Gill, who seeks to regain his form after a series of low scores that have marked an underwhelming tour thus far.
Australia enters this match without two of their key players — Josh Hazlewood and Travis Head. Their absence highlights a vulnerability as the team grapples with maintaining momentum. Travis Head will play in the Sheffield Shield to prepare for the Ashes, while Josh Hazlewood’s absence was notably felt in Australia’s last match where they failed to defend a total of 186 runs.
This match offers India a golden opportunity to take the lead at 2-1 before heading into the final showdown at the Gabba. India’s previous match demonstrated a balanced team combination, particularly with an all-rounder at No. 8 that added depth to both batting and bowling.
However, Gill’s inconsistent form remains a pressing concern. The stylish right-hander has failed to reach a half-century in his last six innings, posting scores of 10, 9, 24, 37*, 5, and 15. Despite showcasing glimmers of his potential during a partnership with captain Suryakumar Yadav in Canberra, Gill has predominantly struggled against fuller deliveries that drift away from him.
On a positive note, opener Abhishek Sharma continues to shine in the T20 format, proving his mettle as the world’s top T20 batter. He has produced a solid half-century and multiple vigorous starts, contributing significantly to the team’s efforts.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav has also displayed moments of brilliance in the series, particularly in the first and third games. He will aim to transform his promising starts into a substantial innings, especially as the team heads into a month-long break prior to facing South Africa.
The match is set to begin at 1:45 PM IST.
Teams:
India: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill (VC), Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Sanju Samson (WK), Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar.
Australia: Mitchell Marsh (C), Matthew Short, Josh Inglis (WK), Josh Phillippe (WK), Mitchell Owen, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Kuhnemann, Adam Zampa, Mahli Beardman, Ben Dwarshuis, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Marcus Stoinis.
