Mumbai ,24 June :
Team India aims to secure their third consecutive win in the T20 World Cup as they face Australia in their final Super Eight match on Monday. A victory would not only make India the group leaders and secure a semifinal spot but also significantly jeopardize Australia’s chances of advancing after their surprising loss to Afghanistan in Saint Vincent on Saturday night.
Australia’s fate now depends on the outcome of Afghanistan’s final game against Bangladesh on Monday night. Having endured painful defeats to Australia in previous ICC events, India would be thrilled to see their rivals make an early exit. India, fresh off wins against Afghanistan and Bangladesh, require little adjustment heading into the knockouts. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli both delivered substantial innings against Afghanistan, while Shivam Dube silenced critics with a crucial knock. However, Rishabh Pant will aim to improve his shot selection after frequent dismissals from reverse hits.
Hardik Pandya’s all-around performances have been a major positive for India, contributing effectively with both bat and ball. Kuldeep Yadav has also emerged as a match-winner, providing key wickets in the middle overs. Despite Dube’s sluggish start to the tournament, his bright cameo against Bangladesh, scoring 34 off 24 deliveries with three towering sixes, has reinforced the team’s faith in him.
India is unlikely to rotate players for this match despite the tight schedule and limited travel breaks. The team arrived in Saint Lucia on Saturday night and chose not to train before the Australia game due to the hectic travel.
India’s Likely XI vs Australia:
- Openers: Rohit Sharma (c), Virat Kohli
- Middle-order: Rishabh Pant (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube
- All-rounders: Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja
- Bowlers: Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah
