IND vs AUS 2023: India’s probable XI for the first T20I against Australia

Team India are all set to move on from their World Cup 2023 final defeat and give a fresh start. They will lock horns with current world champions Australia for a five-match T20I series, commencing on Thursday (November 23) at Visakhapatnam.

While many senior players will not be seen on the field, a second-string squad will battle it out for the Men in Blue. Many youngsters will get opportunity to showcase their talent and strengthen their spot in the side.

Here we look at the strongest playing XI that Team India can field for the first T20I match against Australia:

Openers: Ishan Kishan, Ruturaj Gaikwad

Ishan Kishan played one brilliant knock in three chances he got at the recently concluded World Cup. He was dropped to bench once Shubman Gill recoverd from dengue and didn’t get any further opportunity to play.

But the left-handed batter is likely to get all the games against Australia as regular openers Rohit Sharma and Gill aren’t present in the squad. To accompany him, vice-captain Ruturaj Gaikwad is the front-runner.

Gaikwad has been a beast in the IPL over the past few seasons but he has merely done anything impressive on the international circuit. It will be a golden chance for him to attract attention of the management and the selectors.