Team India turns its focus to the eagerly anticipated T20I portion of their journey down under after a fierce ODI series. With a thrilling five-match T20I series against Australia, Suryakumar Yadav’s team continues to prepare for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 after winning the Asia Cup 2025 handily last month.

In the action-packed matches, which will take place in Canberra, Melbourne, Hobart, Gold Coast, and Brisbane, Australia, the defending world champions hope to defeat the Mitchell Marsh-led Aussies, who they defeated in a pivotal Super 8 match in the Caribbean last summer and eliminated from contention for the coveted trophy.

The team’s management would be concerned about Hardik Pandya’s absence, though, as even backup all-rounder Nitish Reddy is dealing with similar injury issues. In the crucial absence of captain Pat Cummins and now-retired Mitchell Starc, Australia’s bowling resources will be strengthened by the arrival of star quick Josh Hazlewood for the opening two games.

The return of pace leader Jasprit Bumrah for the series will strengthen India’s team. According to former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar, the veteran speedster will have an excellent opportunity to declare his return to the limited-overs format following the Asia Cup under Australian conditions.

Abhishek Sharma, the top-ranked T20I batsman, Shubman Gill, and Tilak Varma, the top-ranked batsman, are among India’s top three. In addition, India’s skipper, Suryakumar Yadav, is ranked in the top 10 for T20I batting.

He believes that in this five-match T20I series, touring captain Suryakumar Yadav’s batting style will be aided by the pace and bounce of the Australian conditions, allowing him to reclaim his form.

For many of our young players, this T20I series in Australia will be a big test because it will be their first time playing T20 International cricket in such conditions against a squad of this caliber.

Even while the setting is different from what players will experience in the World Cup, it offers a new challenge and a great chance for new heroes to rise to the occasion.

With runs under their belts, it’s an opportunity for a number of players to step up, boost their confidence, and develop momentum,” he said.

Dates, Timings and Venues

1st T20I, Oct. 29 – Manuka Oval, Canberra
2nd T20I, Oct. 31 – Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
3rd T20I, Nov. 2 – Bellerive Oval, Hobart
4th T20I, Nov. 6 – Bell Pippen Oval, Gold Coast
5th T20I, Nov. 8 – The Gabba, Brisbane

The India-Australia T20I series will start with all five of its games at 1:45 p.m. IST. In light of this, the toss for each of the five fixtures is scheduled for 1:15 p.m. IST.

India 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 Squad: Mitchell Marsh (C), Sean Abbott (games 1-3), Xavier Bartlett, Mahli Beardman (games 3-5), Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis (games 4-5), Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood (games 1-2), Glenn Maxwell (games 3-5), Travis Head, Josh Inglis (WK), Matthew Kuhnemann, Mitchell Owen, Josh Philippe (WK), Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.