Australia will have plenty to play for as they lock horns with India in the 3rd and the final of the T20I series on December 8 (Tuesday) at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Currently, as things stand, the Men in Blues have sealed the series with one match to go winning their straight last 10 matches.
India will continue to experiment with their playing going to this dead rubber as they strive to find the right combinations for the upcoming ICC T20I World Cup next year. Hardik Pandya’s emergence as a batsman and young left-arm T Natarajan have been the find of the tour.
Both of them have raised their hands in difficult situations to deliver the goods. Natarajan, in particular, have done exceptionally well in his debut season, in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah. However, the focus will be in the middle-order, who will look to make this opportunity count.
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On the other hand, Australia have been marred with injuries throughout the last few games. However, the 3rd T20I might see the return of their regular captain Aaron Finch, who missed the second tie with a hip injury. With the return of Finch, the management will face the opening dilemma after Matthew Wade scored a blistering half-century in Finch’s absence.
The hosts will look to find a solution for Hardik Pandya’s carnage in the death overs as they look to pull one back and finish the series with a win.
Australia vs India 2020: 3rd T20I at the Sydney Cricket Ground on December 8 (Tuesday) from 1:40 PM IST
Predicted Playing XI
Australia: Matthew Wade (wk), Aaron Finch (c), Steve Smith, Moises Henriques, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Daniel Sams, Andrew Tye, Mitchell Swepson, Adam Zampa.
India: Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul (wk), Virat Kohli (c), Sanju Samson, Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, T Natarajan, Yuzvendra Chahal.
Match Prediction – Who will win the match?
India come into this game on the back of 10 straight wins and will be high on confidence. On the other hand, Australia will have to play out of their skins to stop India’s consistent run in the shortest format in Sydney which has witnessed batters making a merry out of the bowlers.
Considering the past records and recent form, the Men in Blues are likely to record a clean sweep against the Aussies beating them in the final white-ball game of the tour.
