India, under the dynamic leadership of Suryakumar Yadav, are set to lock horns with Australia in the first T20I of a highly anticipated five-match series at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on Wednesday, October 29, 2025. This opening encounter is more than just a single match; it’s the start of a significant preparatory phase for both top-ranked T20I sides ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026.
High Stakes for T20 World Cup Prep
The series pits the world No. 1 (India) against the world No. 2 (Australia) in the ICC T20I rankings. Given the next global tournament is slated for February-March 2026, this series serves as a crucial litmus test and fine-tuning opportunity. India enters the contest buoyed by their dominant run since winning the T20 World Cup 2024, which includes an undefeated Asia Cup 2025 triumph.
Conversely, Australia, led by Mitchell Marsh, have also found momentum in the shortest format, losing only two of their last 20 T20Is, often employing an aggressive, power-hitting strategy from the outset.
Key Insights & Team News
- Recent History: The last T20I meeting saw India secure a comprehensive victory over Australia in the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup 2024.
- Bumrah’s Return: India receives a significant boost with the return of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who was rested during the preceding ODI series.
- Captaincy Challenge: This match marks Suryakumar Yadav’s first time leading India in a T20I on Australian soil, presenting a unique challenge for the captain.
- Australian Warning: Australian opener Travis Head issued a clear warning, stating the plan for him and Marsh is to “try and go out there and take advantage of it [Powerplay fielding restrictions]” to post massive totals.
- Form Guide: India has won nine of their last ten T20Is, while Australia has won seven of their last ten.
Head-to-Head & Squad Details
Historically, India holds the advantage in T20I encounters, winning 20 out of 31 matches played against Australia’s 11 victories.
Toss Update: The toss is scheduled for 1:15 PM IST.
Predicted Playing XIs (As per pre-match reports):
- India: Shubman Gill (vc), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Kuldeep Yadav.
- Australia: Mitchell Marsh (c), Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Short, Tim David, Mitchell Owen, Marcus Stoinis, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Tanveer Sangha.
How to Watch
The match will be telecast on the Star Sports Network and available for live streaming on the JioCinema app.
Catch all the live updates as the action unfolds from Canberra! 🏏