Brisbane, November 8, 2025 - Australia won the toss and elected to bowl first in the fifth and final T20 International against India at The Gabba. India, leading the series 3-1, made one change to their playing XI, with Rinku Singh replacing Tilak Varma. Australia, on the other hand, remained unchanged.
Mitchell Marsh, the Australian captain, opted to field after winning the toss. This decision could be influenced by the Gabba's history, where Australia has generally performed well in T20Is, losing only once in eight matches. Their sole defeat at the venue in the shortest format came against the West Indies in 2013.
Suryakumar Yadav, India's captain, stated he was "happy to keep losing tosses as long as the team kept winning games". He emphasized the importance of expressing themselves on the field and understanding the team's goals. He also noted that the team realized the previous match wasn't a 200-run pitch, and they managed to tick all the boxes.
The inclusion of Rinku Singh in place of Tilak Varma was the only change India made for this crucial match. While the team management has not given a specific reason, it is understood that Varma has been rested. Rinku Singh had been waiting for an opportunity and is known for his finishing abilities. It gives him a chance to showcase his talent in the middle order. Tilak Varma has played some good knocks in T20Is, but outside of those, his performances have been ordinary. Rinku Singh has been warming the bench for a while and giving him his ideal middle-order role could be perfect for the team.
India has already secured their 17-year unbeaten record in bilateral T20I series against Australia. With a 3-1 lead, they have the opportunity to win the series 3-1. Even if India loses, the series will end in a 2-2 draw.
India Playing XI: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (Captain), Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (Wicket-keeper), Washington Sundar, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah.
Australia Playing XI: Mitchell Marsh (Captain), Matthew Short, Josh Inglis, Tim David, Josh Philippe, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshuis, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa.
