The first T20I between India and Australia is set to be played at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide on January 26, Tuesday. Adelaide T20I is likely to start around 2:00 PM IST. A convincing win at Sydney allowed India to escape a 5-0 whitewash in the ODI series against the Aussies. Now, the action shifts to the shortest format of the game and the series is nicely poised.
Weather during Adelaide T20I will remain mostly clear with southeasterly winds of about 25 to 40 kmph blowing over the region. There’s no chance of rain and a full day’s play is expected here. Moderate humidity levels of about 40 to 50% will prevail during Adelaide T20I.
Experts opine that another flat track awaits India and Australia at the Adelaide Oval on Tuesday. There will be enough bounce for the bowlers to experiment with, but batsmen are likely to maintain an upper hand.
ALSO READ: NASA image shows smoky stretch of Australia bushfires
Team India will undergo some big changes with the likes of Ashish Nehra, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, and Suresh Raina making a comeback to the shorter format. Ajinkya Rahane (injured during Sydney ODI) will not be a part of the Adelaide T20I. Hardik Pandya, thanks to his ruthless hard-hitting skills, might just make the cut.
Another youngster who impressed everyone at Sydney was Jasprit Bumrah and adjusting him in the Playing XI will also be on Dhoni’s mind. Ashwin’s importance in the T20 format, Jadeja’s impressive performance in the ODI series, and Harbhajan's comeback will give birth to familiar selection woes for captain cool.
Australia, on the other hand, will miss the services of T20 specialist Glenn Maxwell who is nursing an injury. Adelaide T20I comes at a time when domestic cricket in Australia is preparing to let go of the Big Bash League fever. Some prominent names have given a few magnificent performances during BBL this year. Captain Finch will surely look to pack all-rounders and big hitters as the Adelaide T20I is set to be a run feast.
We will keep you updated on cricket, weather, and more as India’s preparations for the T20I World Cup 2016 finally begin.
(Featured Image Credit: saharasamay.com)
