With the T20 World Cup 2026 in sight, two of the best powerhouses of T20 cricket meet Down Under. The Manuka Oval in Canberra will kickstart the much-anticipated five-match T20I series between hosts Australia and India. This follows up a headline-grabbing ODI leg that was won by the Aussies but celebrated right through India because of the return of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

While India have their own set of selection headaches, Australia have an almost confirmed playing XI for the opening T20I. Interestingly enough, Australia have named three different squads for this five-match rubber because of managing their workload with the all-important home Ashes in sight. Glenn Maxwell, who will miss the first two games, will also return from a freak wrist injury he suffered a few weeks back.

Australia better T20I batting unit than India

After a poor T20 World Cup 2024 that saw Australia get eliminated by the hands of Afghanistan, the Men in Yellow have operated at a whole new level. They have perhaps been the second-best, if not the best, T20I side after India. Since that tournament, Australia have lost just two of their 19 T20I matches and have the same W/L ratio of 8.00 as India.

The main reason for this change has been the approach in their batting. Under Mitchell Marsh, Australia have inculcated an ultra-aggressive batting approach that has seen them operate at a phenomenal batting run rate of 10.07. India have recorded 9.69 in the same period. With their deep batting lineup, Australia look to torment every bowling lineup they face and it would be fascinating to see how they turn up against the current world champions.

Tim David oversees powerful batting

The Aussie openers would be what we saw in the ODIs as well, with Mitchell Marsh and Head taking the charge. Marsh has led from the front and has mustered the most runs (439) for Australia since the last T20 World Cup. Head, meanwhile, has struggled a bit but has operated at a wondrous strike rate of 182.60.

Australia would miss Matthew Short in the lineup as he misses out due to a finger injury he suffered in the ODI series. Instead, Josh Inglish would make a return after missing the previous white-ball series against New Zealand. Inglis has perhaps been the most underrated T20I batter in recent times, having scored 408 runs at an incredible strike rate of 181.33 in last 15 games.

Tim David, Josh Philippe, Marcus Stoinis and Mitchell Owen will then round up the right-hand-dominated attack. David, in particular, has been the best Australian batter in recent times. He hit the fastest T20I century for Australia recently in just 37 balls. In fact, his strike rate of 186.40 has been only bettered by Abhishek Sharma among full-member nations! Australia would miss Cameron Green and Maxwell but Stoinis, Philippe and Owen are enough to hammer at a high rate.

Hazlewood to spearhead bowling

Now comes the bowling. So far in the top seven that we have covered, Australia already have three bowling options (not including Marsh and Head)! That is the luxury that the Aussies have currently.

The bowling unit will be spearheaded by Josh Hazlewood, who is perhaps the best all-format bowler in world cricket after Jasprit Bumrah. What a treat it would be to watch Hazlewood and Bumrah together in the same match! The tall pacer also needs just four wickets to become Australia’s leading wicket-taking pacer in T20Is. Now-retired Mitchell Starc took 79 in 65 games, while Hazlewood sits at 76 scalps in just 57 innings.

There would be a toss-up for a spot between Ben Dwarhuis and Sean Abbott as well, but Dwarhuis gives a left-arm angle so he might pip ahead. Dwarhuis has been one of the best pacers for Australia in recent times, having taken 15 wickets at a phenomenal strike rate of 12.8 (the best for AUS).

Nathan Ellis would definitely play, being a T20I specialist. However, Australia would miss Adam Zampa, who is out due to paternal duties. Instead of him, Tanveer Sangha could play, as he has experience playing at the venue, which is also the second home ground for his BBL franchise, the Sydney Thunders.

Predicted Australia Playing XI vs India, 1st T20I

• Mitchell Marsh
• Travis Head
• Josh Inglis (wk)
• Josh Philippe
• Tim David
• Marcus Stoinis
• Mitchell Owen
• Ben Dwarshuis
• Nathan Ellis
• Josh Hazlewood
• Tanveer Sangha/Matt Kunhemann

Australia squad for 1st & 2nd T20Is vs India

Mitchell Marsh (c), Travis Head, Matthew Short, Tim David, Josh Inglis (w), Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Owen, Xavier Bartlett, Sean Abbott, Matthew Kuhnemann, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Philippe, Nathan Ellis, Tanveer Sangha, Ben Dwarshuis