Big picture: Will India experiment?
It has rained for the first three T20Is. Instead, the batsmen have turned the bowlers into bowling machines and with 123 fours and 65 sixes already hit, more of the same is expected when the teams arrive in Raipur for the fourth T20I.
For the Indian bowlers, it will be a chance to bounce back after Maxwell’s attack. Ravi Bishnoi and Axar Patel have produced strong opening spells but the dew has nullified their effectiveness at the back. The seamers, especially Arshdeep Singh and Prasidh Krishna, have regularly failed and gone for broke. Newly recruited Deepak Chahar and Mukesh Kumar, back from his wedding, could fill some of India’s gaps in the power play and the death. They may also be tempted to play with a suitable sixth bowler after stand-in captain Suryakumar Yadav struggled with just five options in the last outing.
forms guide
India LWWWW (last five T20Is completed, most recent first)Australia WWWWW
In the spotlight: Jason Behrendorff and Prasidh Krishna
Jason Behrendorff’s height has always made him an X-factor, and that, combined with his control of the new ball, has made him stand out in a series that has been a graveyard for fast bowlers. He has troubled India’s left-handers and troubled right-handers with cross-court deliveries. The odd pitch to righties has also kept them cautious, and the result of that was his 17 points in a 1-for-12 streak in Guwahati. In the first T20I too he had conceded only 25, and for Australia to level the series, his four overs will be crucial.
Jason Behrendorff has been impressive for Australia•sports photos
At the other end of the spectrum is Prasidh Krishna, who as recently as the World Cup was considered the next best fast bowling option after India’s first-choice seam bowling trio. In the first three games, he has been the longest-serving fast bowler in the XI, but after an economy of 13-plus in the T20I series, he will have to dip deep into his reserves to find a way to get past the batsmen. devastating.
Team News: Mukesh, Green in?
Mukesh should be placed in the XI if India are looking to win the series and not something long-term. Otherwise, India have tried to give their players a long run in this series.
India (probable): 1 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2 Ruturaj Gaikwad, 3 Ishan Kishan (wk), 4 Suryakumar Yadav (captain), 5 Tilak Varma, 6 Rinku Singh, 7 Axar Patel, 8 Ravi Bishnoi, 9 Arshdeep Singh/Deepak Chahar, 10 Prasidh Krishna / Avesh Khan, 11 Mukesh Kumar
Will off-spinner Chris Green make his T20I debut in left field for Australia? He is among four new players who could slot into Australia’s XI in any combination after the likes of Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis and Josh Inglis left. Australia could also use batsmen Josh Philippe or Ben McDermott, or left-arm seamer Ben Dwarshuis. Aaron Hardie, despite conceding Australia’s most runs in a last T20I game, should try again.
Australia (probable): 1 Aaron Hardie, 2 Travis Head, 3 Matthew Short, 4 Ben McDermott, 5 Tim David, 6 Matthew Wade (captain, week), 7 Chris Green, 8 Ben Dwarshuis, 9 Nathan Ellis, 10 Jason Behrendorff, 11 Tanveer Sangha.
Field and conditions
The only evidence of international cricket in Raipur was when India bowled out New Zealand for 108 in an ODI earlier this year. The Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium once claimed to have the largest boundaries in Asia, but adequate dimensions are expected for a T20 spectacle on Friday.
Two of Australia’s three fastest T20I hundreds came in this series, by Inglis in Visakhapatnam and Maxwell in Guwahati, in 47 balls.
The Raipur Stadium boasts of being the 50th international cricket venue in India.
Behrendorff has conceded just 37 runs in eight overs in this series. He has also bowled the only two maiden overs delivered in the series.
Quotes
“Generally, guys here talk about bowling first because once the dew comes, the conditions change a little bit. I think that has been the strategy for most of the teams playing night cricket in India. Everything “It depends on what happens with the coin toss, but I think either side will probably try to toss first.” Jason Behrendorff on Australia’s plan if they win the draw
Sreshth Shah is Deputy Editor at ESPNcricinfo. @sreshthx
