Hobart, Australia - In a crucial must-win game, India will face Australia in the 3rd T20I at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart, with the series currently favoring the home side. India seeks to level the series after a crushing defeat in the second T20I at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and elected to bowl first, citing favorable bowling conditions and confidence in chasing a target on this surface. This decision marks a significant moment as India aims to leverage the conditions to their advantage.
India has made three changes to their playing XI. Arshdeep Singh replaces Harshit Rana, Jitesh Sharma takes over wicketkeeping duties from Sanju Samson, and Washington Sundar comes in for Kuldeep Yadav. The inclusion of Arshdeep Singh is particularly noteworthy. Despite being India's leading T20I wicket-taker with over 100 wickets, he was surprisingly benched for the first two matches. His omission drew criticism, with experts like Ravichandran Ashwin questioning the team management's decision to prioritize batting depth over a specialist bowler.
Australia will be without Josh Hazlewood, who was named man of the match in the second T20I, as he has been released to prepare for the Ashes series. Glenn Maxwell and Adam Zampa, however, return to bolster the squad.
The Bellerive Oval in Hobart is known for its batting-friendly track and small side boundaries. Conditions are expected to favor stroke play, and India will aim for a much-improved batting performance after being dismissed for just 125 in Melbourne.
India dominates the head-to-head record against Australia in T20Is, with 20 wins compared to Australia's 12. However, Australia will be confident after their dominant victory at the MCG.
The absence of Josh Hazlewood will provide some relief for the Indian batters, who have struggled against his bounce and seam movement. However, they will still need to contend with the likes of Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, and Sean Abbott.
Key matchups to watch include Suryakumar Yadav against Nathan Ellis, who will take on the responsibility of being Australia's lead bowler in Hazlewood's absence. The surface at Hobart is typically batting-friendly, promising a high-scoring affair.
