Follow UsDavid Warner has pulled out of the upcoming T20 International (T20I) series against India, starting Thursday (November 23). Along with Warner, the likes of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, Cameron Green and Mitchell Marsh will remain absent from the series, having headed back home following the World Cup.
Aaron Hardie, who made his debut against South Africa in Durban earlier this year, has been added to the T20I side as a result. Kane Richardson, too has been called up as a replacement for Spencer Johnson, who is currently nursing a hamstring injury.
Marsh had led Australia in the three-match T20I series ahead of the World Cup, which his side won 3-0, but with him being rested, Matthew Wade will lead the side in India. Marsh is, however, tipped to be the captain of the side on a permanent basis.
Head coach Andrew McDonald too has been rested for the series, with assistant coach Andre Borovec taking charge during the series. The squad now comprises eight players who played a part in the ODI World Cup, including young leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha, who was a travelling reserve for the marquee event.
The series against India, beginning just four days after Australia's historic sixth World Cup triumph, will act as a build-up for the T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies in June 2024. After the five matches agianst India, Australia have just six more matches ahead of the mega event - three each against West Indies and New Zealand - in February.
India, too have rested some of their big stars like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, among others, with Suryakumar Yadav set to lead the side.
After the first T20I in Visakhapatnam, the action shifts to Thiruvananthapuram, Guwahati and Raipur before concluding in Bengaluru on December 3.
Australia's T20I squad against India: Matthew Wade (c), Travis Head, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Josh Inglis (wk), Aaron Hardie, Jason Behrendorff, Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Kane Richardson, Adam Zampa, Tanveer Sangha