Australia’s skipper Mitchell Marsh won the toss and chose to bowl first against India in the opening match of the five-game T20I series at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on Wednesday. The Aussies enter the contest on a high after clinching the ODI series 2-1, and they’ll be eager to carry that momentum into the shortest format.
India Returns to Action After Asia Cup 2025 Triumph
This marks India’s first outing since lifting the Asia Cup 2025 trophy in September. While the playing conditions in Canberra are quite different from what they’ll face during the T20 World Cup 2026 in Sri Lanka and India, this series offers an ideal testing ground for the team to experiment with new combinations and strategies.
The wickets at Manuka Oval are known to be true surfaces with extra bounce and pace, which should make for an exciting contest between bat and ball. For India, this series serves as a valuable opportunity to adapt to various playing conditions ahead of a packed international calendar.
Australia Eye Continued Dominance
The Aussies, on the other hand, have been in terrific form across formats. Their recent performances in white-ball cricket have strengthened their status as one of the top contenders for the 2026 T20 World Cup. With a mix of power-hitters and experienced bowlers, Marsh’s men will be keen to assess their bench strength against the reigning World Champions, India.
This five-match series is expected to be a high-octane battle, featuring some of the biggest names in world cricket. Both teams are looking to fine-tune their T20 line-ups, and with the World Cup less than a year away, every match matters.
India vs Australia 1st T20I Live Streaming Details
Cricket fans around the world can catch all the live action from the India vs Australia 1st T20I through official broadcasters and digital platforms.
- Live Streaming: Disney+ Hotstar
- TV Broadcast: Star Sports Network
- Match Venue: Manuka Oval, Canberra
- Match Start Time: 1:30 PM IST (7:00 PM local time)
Confirmed Playing XIs
Australia (Playing XI):
Mitchell Marsh (c), Travis Head, Josh Inglis (w), Tim David, Mitchell Owen, Marcus Stoinis, Josh Philippe, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Josh Hazlewood
India (Playing XI):
Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (w), Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah
What to Expect from the Series
This series promises fast-paced cricket, hard-hitting batting, and tactical bowling duels.
- India’s focus: Testing young talents like Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma while giving seniors like Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah some match rhythm.
- Australia’s goal: Balancing experience with fresh faces and keeping their winning form alive.
The Manuka Oval pitch traditionally supports batsmen early on, but bowlers who can hit the right length could find movement under the lights. Expect scores in the 170–190 range if both sides bat to potential.
Final Thoughts
Both teams have plenty to prove and even more to gain. For India, it’s about building consistency and finding the right mix for 2026. For Australia, it’s about maintaining their dominance and testing their depth.
Fans can expect nothing less than fireworks from ball one as two of cricket’s biggest heavyweights clash in Canberra.
