India may start Monday’s match against Australia without changing from its previous lineups against Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
After India’s daring display at the bat against Bangladesh, captain Rohit Sharma seems convinced, saying, “That’s how we want to play and go forward.” India’s hitting has almost joined the celebration with their bowling after a 50-run victory against the Bangla Tigers on Saturday. Players like Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube have started locating the bat’s center in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024.
However, Jasprit Bumrah’s Indian bowling team has dominated the competition, taking 43 wickets in total thus far. Kuldeep Yadav’s inclusion in the starting lineup has essentially reinforced the lineup combinations.
After two convincing victories, India has nearly secured a semifinal berth. However, the Men in Blue will first have to contend with more formidable opponents in Australia when they play their final Super Eight match on June 24 at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, St. Lucia.
With the clouds and possibility of rain in Antigua, captain Rohit Sharma has a tough decision to make when India plays Australia. Before this exciting match, let’s look at India’s projected starting lineup versus Australia.
Australia vs India: Predicted Starting XI
Rohit Sharma (c)
After hitting a 97-meter six off the bowling of Shakib Al Hasan, skipper Rohit Sharma was primed for a big match against Bangladesh. However, following an 11-ball 23, the opener strolled back to the locker room.
But in this T20 World Cup, Rohit scored 99 runs in five innings with a strike rate of 125.31, including a flawless 52 against Ireland. In T20Is, Rohit has amassed 392 runs in 19 innings against Australia, and he will look to maintain his dominance on Monday.
Virat Kohli
Cricket fans find it hard to believe that Virat Kohli, who won two Player of the Tournament titles in a row in 2014 and 2016, could only muster 66 runs after five innings in a T20 World Cup.
Kohli has had trouble in the middle with the bat, particularly during the competition’s USA leg. The former captain, who has scored 61 runs in the last two Caribbean-based games, should be eager to attack the Australian bowlers when he plays them on Monday in St. Lucia.
Wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant
Rishabh Pant qualified as India’s first-choice wicketkeeper for the T20 World Cup 2024 after amassing 446 runs in the IPL 2024. In the current Twenty20 campaign, the star wicketkeeper-batter has been quite effective at the bat, amassing 152 runs at an average of 38 across five innings.
The Southpaw might be an X-factor against Australia since he is India’s top run scorer in the league.
Suryakumar Yadav
Suryakumar Yadav’s consecutive fifty-score innings against the USA and Afghanistan, respectively, have reinforced India’s middle order in this competition. His unconventional style at No. 4 gives India’s batting both aggression and solidity.
With a strike rate of 129.67, the top-ranked T20I batsman in the world has amassed 118 runs in five innings. Indian supporters want SKY to maintain his incredible form against the Aussies as India takes on them on Monday.
Shivam Dube
Rinku Singh was prevented from representing India in a World Cup match by the selection of Shivam Dube in the team’s T20 World Cup squad of fifteen players. However, Dube’s performance in the IPL 2024, where he amassed 396 runs at a strike rate of 162.29. in 14 matches, attracted the notice of the selectors.
Unexpectedly, Dube was among the Indian hitters who found accumulating runs during the current T20 World Cup difficult. But in five innings, the Southpaw has managed to score 78 runs. His batting form will be very important when India plays Australia on Monday.
Hardik Pandya
As captain of the Mumbai Indians, Hardik Pandya had an unmemorable IPL 2024 and was embroiled in several controversies during the team’s dismal season. A discussion point leading up to the ICC match was his vice-captainship of India during the T20 World Cup.
With an astounding strike rate of 141.26 and eight ball wickets taken in three innings, the ace all-rounder has hopefully produced one of the great comebacks.
Ravindra Jadeja
In the current T20 World Cup, India’s star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has yet to be the team’s main option. Nonetheless, ignorance and all-around skills on the international circuit are impossible.
In just two innings, the Southpaw has only managed seven runs and has only claimed one victory thus far in the competition. Jadeja will want to perform to his standards when playing Australia.
Axel Patel
All-around bowler Axar Patel has taken four wickets and scored 35 runs in three innings, bowling for India during the T20 World Cup.
Axar also had a respectable IPL 2024 season, taking 11 wickets at an economy of 7.65 for the Delhi Capitals in 14 matches. The left-arm spinner has teamed up with players like Kuldeep Yadav and Jadeja to help India make strides, and he might be a useful batsman against Australia.
Kuldeep Yadav
Kuldeep has emerged as one of the top leg spinners in the world, amassing 64 wickets in 37 Twenty20 Internationals for India. With five wickets in two matches, the left-arm chinaman bowler has likely taken his IPL 2024 success into the T20 World Cup.
In his previous tournament match, he claimed three wickets against Bangladesh and will likely take several wickets again against Australia.
Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah is having his greatest T20 World Cup season, taking ten scalps in five matches and boasting an excellent economy rate of 3.42.
Ultimately, Bumrah was even more dominant in the IPL 2024, taking 20 wickets for the Mumbai Indians. In this tournament, he has also spearheaded India’s pace batteries. On Monday in St. Lucia, he hopes to be among the wickets against the Australian batters.
Arshdeep Singh
Arshdeep is currently the best wicket-taker for India in the competition, with an economy of 7.05 and 12 wickets. On Monday, the elite pacer will want to continue his recent success against the formidable Australians.
Also Read : Afghanistan Writes History by Surprising Australia in the 2024 T20 World Cup Super 8