Australia look for much-needed series win in final T20I

Overview

Australia v India
3rd T20I
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Sunday 25 November, 06:50 PM local time, 07:50 AM BST

Australia have had a rough year, but things might finally be going their way. They won the first game at the Gabba by four runs on the DLS Method, and though their batsmen collapsed to 132/9 in 19 overs in the second T20I, rain intervened to force the abandonment of the match, and preserve Australia's lead.

The home side are No. 4 on the MRF Tyres ICC T20I Team Rankings, and will want to strengthen their position by clinching the series against India. Aaron Finch, the captain, will need to contribute with the bat for Australia to have a chance of doing that. He is second on the MRF Tyres ICC T20I Player Rankings for batsmen, and with 503 runs in 16 innings, he is their leading run-scorer in the shortest format of the game this year.

However, he has been on a lean run of form with the bat. In his last ten internationals outings – seven T20Is and three ODIs – there's just been one score of note, the 41 he scored against South Africa in the second ODI.

Glenn Maxwell, who scored a fiery 24-ball 46 in Brisbane, is also an important player for the hosts, as are the bowlers Andrew Tye and Marcus Stoinis, who was Player of the Match in the first T20I.

Australia will miss fast bowler Billy Stanlake, who has been sidelined with an ankle injury, but they've a more than adequate replacement in Mitchell Starc. The pace ace hasn't played a T20I since September 2016 and his last match at home in the format was in February 2014. However, he remains as lethal as ever, and India will have to be wary.

In fact, Australia's main concern will be with their batting, especially given the manner of their collapse in Melbourne.

India, meanwhile, will be confident of levelling the series. With Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma opening the batting, and KL Rahul and Virat Kohli walking in after them, their top order looks formidable and intimidating.

The question mark revolves around their middle order – what happens if the top order fails? The likes of Dinesh Karthik, Rishabh Pant and Krunal Pandya struggled to complete the chase in Brisbane, and they have plenty to prove.

Their bowling has looked sorted for the most part, although the leaking of runs in death will be something that will rankle captain Kohli. For instance, Khaleel Ahmed, who has claimed three wickets in the series so far, is effective at the beginning of the innings, but has been expensive in the later stages.

All in all, if the rain stays away, this could be quite a contest.

Key players

**Glenn Maxwell (Australia):**Maxwell looked dangerous with the bat in the first game, and will be the key for the hosts in Sydney. The 30-year-old, who is No.1 on the MRF Tyres ICC T20I Rankings for all-rounders, has scored 493 runs for Australia in 17 innings this year, and is their second-highest run-scorer in the format. He is also a handy spin option, and is invaluable for Finch.

**Shikhar Dhawan (India):**With 648 runs in 16 innings at an average of 40.40, the opener is the leading run-scorer in T20I cricket this year. Dhawan struggled to get going against the Windies last month, but then scored a scintillating 76 in Brisbane. With Kohli pushed down the order to accommodate Rahul, Dhawan's form at the top will be crucial for India.

Conditions

The weather has been a dampener in the series so far, but thankfully, the forecast looks promising in Sydney – there is no rain predicted for the duration of the match. It could get cloudy, though, and that's something the seam bowlers will enjoy.

Squads

**Australia:**Aaron Finch(c), Alex Carey, Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Chris Lynn, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, D Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa

**India:**Virat Kohli(c), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Lokesh Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik, Rishabh Pant, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Washington Sundar, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav, K Khaleel Ahmed