Second Spot in ICC T20 Rankings Within India’s Grasp vs Australia
India are currently at the fifth place in the ICC T20 rankings.
After clinching the number one spot in ODIs with a 4-1 series victory over Australia, India will be looking to improve their rankings in T20s.
The Men in Blue are currently placed in fifth place, below New Zealand, Pakistan, West Indies and England. Australia, on the other hand, are at the number seven spot.
Therefore, both the sides will have all to play for, when the three-match T20 series begins in Ranchi on Saturday.
If India Win 3-0
If India beat Australia 3-0 in the T20 series, they will gain 6 points and therefore jump to the second spot in the ICC Rankings.
The Men in Blue will get closer to their dream of becoming the number one side in all three formats, having already achieved the summit in Tests and ODIs.
If Australia Win 3-0
The Australian team has 110 points to their name at the moment. If they win all three matches of the series against India, they will gain 10 points and move to the third spot in the ICC rankings. New Zealand and Pakistan will stay ahead of Australia.
Rain Cancels Practice
However, India’s bid to give a great performance in the first T20 was hampered as heavy downpour forced India to cancel their first practice session in Ranchi on Thursday.
Having arrived in batches, Virat Kohli and company were to train at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in the evening but showers lasting for about 45 minutes forced them to stay put in the team hotel.
Australia on the other hand had the luxury of afternoon training and went through their paces without being hampered by rain.
A local JSCA official however said there is no threat of a washout for the match on 7 October.
Players In and Out
Australia will miss the services of Patrick Cummins, James Faulkner, Josh Hazlewood, Marcus Stoinis and Matthew Wade in the T20 series.
Uncapped left-arm speedster Jason Behrendorff, along with wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Paine, all-rounders Moises Henriques and Dan Christian, are the new additions in Australia's T20I squad.
Patrick Cummins was also named in the Australian T20 squad, but was withdrawn from the team during the ODI series. The Australian selectors decided to give the fast bowler a break ahead of the Ashes series. Andrew Tye has been named as the replacement for Cummins.
As far as India are concerned, Shikhar Dhawan, Dinesh Karthik and Ashish Nehra are the new entries in the T20 squad. Mohammed Shami, Ajinkya Rahane and Umesh Yadav have been left out.
(With inputs from PTI)
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