India vs Australia Predictions: India Have an Almost Full-Strength Side and Should Win

• India lead the head-to-head record against Australia in T20 cricket with 13 wins to nine.
• Australia will be without a few of their key players in David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Marcus Stoinis and Mitchell Starc.
• India have won 22 out of 29 T20I matches since the previous World Cup.

India vs Australia Odds

Odds taken from bet365.

India vs Australia Prediction and Pick

India and Australia have only faced each other 23 times in T20 cricket, with India developing an advantage. India have won 13 of those matches whereas Australia have won nine. India have an almost full-strength side and should win the first T20I on Tuesday.

India to win (-250)

India: Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik, Harshal Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal

Australia: Aaron Finch (c), Josh Inglis, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Tim David, Matthew Wade (wk), Pat Cummins, Ashton Agar, Adam Zampa, Kane Richardson, Josh Hazlewood

India Look to Iron Out Weaknesses as They Face a Weakened Australian Side

The defending T20 world champions Australia are on a short tour of India for a three-match T20I series on the road to the upcoming World Cup. The first T20 international will take place at the PCA Stadium in Mohali on Tuesday.

India will be looking to leave their Asia Cup disappointment behind them and march towards the T20 World Cup. The Rohit Sharma-led side won both their group matches in the Asia Cup but lost versus Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the Super 4 to crash out. Overall, India have played 29 T20Is since their group stage exit in the previous T20 World Cup, winning 22 of those.

Australia will be playing against a top side for the first time since their World Cup triumph in the UAE last year. They have two bilateral series versus Sri Lanka this year and a one-off T20I against Pakistan. They defeated Sri Lanka by 4-1 at home earlier this year at home and by 2-1 away from home. Aussies will be looking to hit their straps as the world event approaches thick and fast.

Team News

The Indian bowling attack suffered quite a bit in the recent Asia Cup but they will be relieved with the return of their leader Jasprit Bumrah along with Harshal Patel – both of whom have recovered from injuries. Bhuvneshwar Kumar will partner the duo while Hardik Pandya might have to bowl his full quota if India decide to play both Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik. Arshdeep Singh has been rested from this series, with Umesh Yadav getting a call-up after Mohammed Shami was tested Covid-19 positive.

Australia had rested David Warner for this tour earlier. Additionally, the trio of Mitchell Marsh, Marcus Stoinis, and Mitchell Starc will also miss the series. The three players have had recent injury troubles and the management felt they are better off preparing at home. Josh Inglis will replace Warner at the top while Tim David will make his much-anticipated debut for Australia. The bowling attack is likely to comprise Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Kane Richardson, and Adam Zampa, with one spot either going to Ashton Agar or Daniel Sams.

Key Players

Virat Kohli: Not many can match the consistency of Virat Kohli when he’s in form. The Indian superstar has returned to his best, recently scoring 276 runs in the Asia Cup at an average of 92 while striking at 148. Kohli hammered his first ever T20I century when he smashed 122* off 61 versus Afghanistan. The 33yr old batter has amassed 3584 runs in T20 internationals at an incredible average of 52 and strike rate of 138. Kohli has registered one century and 32 half centuries at this level.

Glenn Maxwell: There aren’t many more valuable players in T20 cricket than the Australian all-rounder. Maxwell has an outstanding record for Australia in the shorter format, with 2017 runs in 79 innings at an exceptional strike rate of 153 while averaging 31. He has hammered three hundreds and nine fifties in T20I cricket. Maxwell is a more than handy off-spinner and has picked 130 wickets at 7.64 economy in overall T20s. The 33yr old is an excellent player in the middle order and has immense experience of playing in India.

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