Australia V India Live 1st T20: New-Look Teams Hope To Start Winning

India take on Australia in the first of two T20Is at the Sydney Olympic Ground on February 1.

The visitors will look to overcome the 4-0 drubbing they received in the T20Is at the hands of the Australians in the two-match series. Despite winning the World Cup in 2007 in this format, India’s record in this format is anything but worth a mention.

Australia, on the other hand, will look to inflict the misery on the tourists, wanting to win in every format, including these two T20Is.

The good news for India is that they have a new team, full of fresh legs who wouldn’t be affected by the losses in the Test matches. Likes of Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Irfan Pathan and even Rohit Sharma, who was a part of the Test squad but did not play a game, will energise the team and boost their chances.

Australia have a new-look T20 squad as well, and it will be led by a rather interesting choice in George Bailey. He replaces Cameron White, who was given the axe from the side after consistent poor form.

David Warner will open the innings, also deputising for Bailey while likes of Travis Birt and Matthew Wade also get a chance. David Hussey, named man of the series in the Big Bash League also gets a chance while Brett Lee will lead the attack. The bowling will also have Brad Hogg and Clint McKay leading the way.

India’s probable 11 will have Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir open the innings, with the likes of Raina, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the middle-order alongside MS Dhoni. One or both of Irfan Pathan and Ravindra Jadeja will take the all-rounder’s spot while Praveen Kumar, Umesh Yadav and Vinay Kumar could be the three pace bowlers.