After concluding the three-match ODI series against Team India, Australia will lock horns with the “Men in Blue” for the five-match T20I series.
Ahead of the shortest format series, leg spinner Tanveer Sangha will be taking the place of star tweaker Adam Zampa, with the 33-year-old unavailable due to personal reasons.
According to ESPNCricinfo, Zampa is set to welcome his second child with his wife, Harriet. The spinner missed the first ODI clash due to the travelling distances. He then featured in Adelaide and delivered a stunning spell, which included a four-wicket haul. The Shellharbour-born cricketer also made his appearance in Sydney, but went wicketless after conceding 50 runs in 10 overs.
His absence will be a massive blow for the Aussies as the spinner is the leading T20I wicket-taker. So far in 106 matches, he has 131 wickets with an average of 21.38 in the format.
Sangha has featured in seven T20Is, taking a four-fer against South Africa in 2023. He has taken 10 wickets in the format at an average of 24.90 and last featured in the format against India in late 2023. He represents the Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League (BBL).
The first T20I match between Team India and Australia is set to be played on October 29 at the Manuka Oval.
Australians managed to seal the three-match ODI series by 2-1 against the “Men in Blue”. In the much-anticipated ODI series, Team India stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli showcased their skills with the willow in the third clash by delivering unbeaten knocks to help the side cruise to victory. Riding on their knocks, the Shubman Gill-led Team India secured a dominating victory by nine wickets at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
India’s T20I squad: 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, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Sanju Samson (WK), Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar.
Australia`s updated T20I squad: Mitchell Marsh (c), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Mitchell Owen, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Tanveer Sangha.
(With ANI Inputs)