India Aims for Victory Against Australia in Crucial Fourth T20 Match

India Seeks to Gain Upper Hand in T20 Series

Shubman Gill is eager to make a significant impact after a disappointing tour, as India prepares to face a weakened Australian side in the fourth T20 International on Thursday.

The series stands at 1-1 following three matches, and Australia's defense of a total of 186 was notably affected by the absence of Josh Hazlewood in the last game.

As the teams head into the fourth match, Australia will also miss Travis Head, who is participating in the Sheffield Shield to gear up for the Ashes.

With two key players unavailable, India has a prime opportunity to take a 2-1 lead before the final match at the Gabba, potentially securing the series.

In the previous match, India appeared to find a suitable combination, particularly with an all-rounder positioned at No. 8.

However, the Indian management may be concerned about Shubman Gill's performance, as he has yet to score a half-century in six matches.

His scores in the ODI series have been 10, 9, 24, 37 not out, 5, and 15, with his best performance coming in Canberra alongside captain Suryakumar Yadav.

Gill has struggled against fuller deliveries with some movement, failing to exhibit the form that has defined his career.

On a positive note, Abhishek Sharma has solidified his status as the world's top T20 batter, contributing a half-century and two rapid starts in the series.

Gill, who will soon transition to red-ball cricket, could gain valuable confidence from scoring runs, regardless of the format.

Captain Suryakumar Yadav has shown flashes of his classic form in the first and third matches, but he too is looking to accumulate runs before a month-long hiatus before facing South Africa.

In the interim, Suryakumar is expected to participate in Mumbai's Ranji Trophy match against Puducherry.

The bowling lineup, bolstered by Arshdeep Singh's inclusion, appears more robust, although Kuldeep Yadav has been sent back to prepare for the Test series against South Africa.

The management faces a dilemma, as both Kuldeep and Arshdeep cannot play simultaneously. If Kuldeep is selected, Harshit Rana, who has better batting capabilities, must be included.

When Arshdeep plays, Washington Sundar's inclusion becomes necessary, as evidenced by his impactful 23-ball 49 that turned the third game in India's favor.

Australia will rely heavily on captain Mitchell Marsh and Tim David for batting strength. With Head absent, Marsh may partner with Matthew Short at the top of the order.

However, the bowling lineup requires adjustments, as Sean Abbott's performance was underwhelming, leading to the possibility of Ben Dwarshuis or Mahli Beardman stepping in.

Teams:

India: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill (VC), Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Sanju Samson (WK), Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar.

Australia: Mitchell Marsh (captain), Matthew Short, Josh Inglis (wk), Josh Phillippe (wk), Mitchell Owen, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Kuhnemann, Adam Zampa, Mahli Beardman, Benn Dwarshuis, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Marcus Stoinis.