Queensland, Nov 5 (UNI) India arrive at Carrara Oval brimming with confidence as they look to capitalise on the absence of key Australian players in the fourth T20I of the ongoing series here Thursday.
With Travis Head returning home for Ashes duties, Australia face a reshuffled batting order, handing India a golden opportunity to press their advantage and claim a crucial 2-1 lead in the tightly poised series.
India’s top-order firepower, led by Shubman Gill and the fearless Abhishek Sharma, has been setting the tone consistently.
Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma bring flair and aggression in the middle overs, capable of turning tight situations in India’s favour.
The depth in India’s batting – featuring Jitesh Sharma, Washington Sundar, and Shivam Dube or Rinku Singh – ensures that pressure can be maintained throughout the innings, a factor that could prove decisive against a slightly unsettled Australian lineup.
The bowling attack is equally well-balanced. Jasprit Bumrah remains India’s spearhead, with Arshdeep Singh providing pace and control at the other end.
The spin duo of Varun Chakaravarthy and Axar Patel is well-suited to exploit Carrara’s subtle turn as the match progresses, and their ability to pick wickets in the middle overs could be a game-changer.
Australia, despite missing Head, will rely heavily on the firepower of Mitchell Marsh, Tim David, Marcus Stoinis, and the mercurial Glenn Maxwell.
Nathan Ellis and Matthew Kuhnemann will be key to curbing India’s run rate, while Ben Dwarshuis and Xavier Bartlett add depth to the pace reserves.
The hosts will need a collective performance to wrest control, especially on a surface that historically favours teams chasing, with a competitive total pegged around 180-190 runs.
The toss could play a pivotal role, with teams likely to bowl first, leveraging Carrara Oval’s early seam movement and the spinners’ potential in the latter stages.
The stage is set for a high-octane contest, where momentum swings, quickfire innings, and strategic bowling changes could decide the outcome.
With the series balanced at 1-1, India sense a real opportunity to seize the initiative, while Australia must regroup and counterattack to keep their hopes alive.
The fourth T20I is scheduled to commence at 1:45 PM IST on Thursday, promising fans a thrilling spectacle filled with intensity, drama, and cricketing brilliance.
Squads
Australia: Tim David, Matthew Short, Mitchell Marsh (C), Mitchell Owen, Marcus Stoinis, Josh Inglis (WK), Josh Philippe (WK), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Adam Zampa, Tanveer Sangha, Mahli Beardman
India: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Abhishek Sharma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy
