PTI
Brisbane
On the cusp of another overseas series win, India will look to overcome batting inconsistencies and finish the tour of Australia with authority when the two sides clash in the fifth and final T20 International here on Saturday.
With an unassailable 2-1 lead in the five-match series, India have extended their 17-year streak of not losing a T20I series in Australia and Suryakumar Yadav and Co. will look to finish strongly.
The focus will be on Shubman Gill and skipper Suryakumar Yadav’s batting, while Australia will look to counter India’s spin challenge when the two sides clash for the last time ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
India’s batting remains under scrutiny despite flashes of promise. Gill’s 46 in the fourth match hinted at a return to form after seven innings without a fifty, while Suryakumar seeks to convert his starts into a defining knock. Abhishek Sharma’s fluency and Axar Patel’s late-hitting have been bright spots. In contrast, Tilak Varma and Jitesh Sharma will hope to silence critics after lean returns. India’s spin trio of Varun, Axar, and Washington has been a revelation, combining for six wickets in Carrara, while Arshdeep Singh’s new-ball spells continue to impress. Australia’s frailties against spin persist, with Marsh and Stoinis carrying much of the batting load. The hosts may look to debut pacer Mahli Beardman to bolster a thin attack.
