In the words of the great Virender Sehwag, “Nehra ji is back. Wow.” “Old is Gold”.
Only, it’s not just the 36-year-old who’s returning to the Indian Blue this week after more than five years away - Yuvraj Singh is back as well as India look for a turnaround in their fortunes Down Under.
After the 4-1 drubbing in the ODI series, MS Dhoni and co now start their T20 campaign on Tuesday in Adelaide.
Long Time, No T20
As the teams switch to the shortest format, also in preparation for the World T20 in India in March, it may be important to point out just how neglected the format is by both.
Since December 2006, when India first played a T20I against South Africa, they have only featured in 29 bilateral matches. And their record outside the World T20 isn’t particularly impressive, with 15 losses and 14 wins.
Since the 2014 World T20, Australia have played just one game in the format, a one-off match in Cardiff against England.
India’s Injuries and Comebacks
Dropped for the ODI series, Suresh Raina has now joined the team for the T20s along with Ashish Nehra and Yuvraj Singh who incidentally played his last international during World T20 in Bangladesh in April 2014.
With Rahane ruled out after receiving stitches on his hand after a split webbing, Yuvraj Singh seems assured of a spot in the XI come Tuesday.
Line-up Shake-Ups
Sydney’s centurion Manish Pandey isn’t part of the T20I squad here, and as such Yuvraj, Suresh Raina and Dhoni are expected to form up nos. 4, 5 and 6, perhaps alternating as per the match situation. The Indian skipper had hinted as much in the post-match press conference at the SCG, and the return of the two middle order batsmen is more than a certainty.
Picking the optimal bowling combination will be a challenge.
There are five slots available to Dhoni and he has to pick from R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Harbhajan Singh, Ashish Nehra, Umesh Yadav, Rishi Dhawan, Gurkeerat Mann, Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya.
Trying out youngsters is the flavour of the month in the Indian dressing room currently, and there will be a temptation to throw the hard-hitting, in-form Pandya into the mix. But all indications are that he might have to wait for his chance. Dhoni was mighty impressed with Bumrah’s debut, in particular his death bowling in Sydney, and will look to give him another go, given that Umesh Yadav has been bleeding runs at every possible opportunity.
Australia’s Uncertainty
For the first time in this contest against India, even Australia are unsure of what their playing eleven combination will be like.
Aaron Finch takes over the captaincy reins from Steve Smith for the T20 format, and he will be hard-pressed to make some tough choices. Top of the list will be how to fit in Nathan Lyon, who the Aussie selectors seem desperate to make an impact, given the World T20 will be held in spin-friendly conditions. Leg-break bowler Cameron Boyce is the other spin option in the squad.
Glenn Maxwell is unavailable for this first match of the series, on account of his injured hamstring, and player of the Big Bash this season, Chris Lynn is expected to slot into the eleven in his place, ahead of left-hand batsman Travis Head. Shane Watson also returns to the fold, and could toss up with Shaun Marsh for George Bailey’s spot. The home fans will also be keenly watching right-arm pacer Andrew Tye, as Australia have been throwing young fast bowlers into the mix recently.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)