India vs Australia: Pant vs Karthik debate in focus as India begin final tune-up for T20 World Cup
India Today
India vs Australia: Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid will look to zero in on the ideal XI as India take on world champions Australia in a 3-match T20I series, starting September 20 in Mohali. India's middle-order batters will be hoping for role clarity in the 3 matches.
India will look to zero in on a settled team combination when they begin their final tune-up for the T20 World Cup in home series against Australia and South Africa. While the experiment was the buzzword even during their Asia Cup campaign, it's time for captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid to identify the right combination and offer role clarity to the players, especially the middle-order.
India will take on Australia in a 3-match T20I series from September 20 to 25 before playing South Africa in 3 T20Is from September 28 to October 4.
While India will have one eye on making a statement with a win over the reigning T20 world champions Australia, the focus will be on finding an ideal XI for the T20 World Cup. it remains to be seen if the conditions on offer across the three venues -- Mohali, Nagpur and Hyderabad will have similarities to bounce-rich Australian pitches but India will be looking to give their first 15 enough game time in the next 6 matches.
Virat Kohli has given the team management another headache by smashing his maiden T20I hundred as opener but Rohit Sharma has stressed that KL Rahul would continue to open with him while the former captain will be considered for the role at the top, depending on conditions.
While India's top 4 look settled, the focus will be on the Rishabh Pant vs Dinesh Karthik debate. With Ravindra Jadeja not available for T20 World Cup, India will be tempted to have the left-hand option of Pant in the top 6 but the wicketkeeper-batter has struggled to make good use of the opportunities that came his way.
When India played Karthik ahead of Pant in the Asia Cup opener against Pakistan, the message was clear. However, an injury to Jadeja forced them to change their plans. Pant played ahead of Karthik in the Super 4 stages but managed 51 runs in 3 matches.
On the other hand, Karthik, who has aced the role of a designated finisher since the breakthrough IPL 2022 season with Royal Challengers Bangalore, was warming the benches even as India struggled to get going in the latter half of innings at Asia Cup 2022.
