After losing to Australia, 1-4, in the ODI series, India will be keen to come up with an improved performance in the three-match T20 series Down Under, which starts on Tuesday.
There are a some changes in both the teams with India welcoming their senior pros including Ashish Nehra, Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh. Suresh Raina, who was dropped from the ODI team, will also feature in the T20 series.
Australia have strengthened their bowling attack with Shaun Tait, who can trouble the Indian batsmen with his pace. Explosive batsman Chris Lynn has also found a place in the Australian team. There is nothing to choose between the two teams, which makes the three-match T20 series even more interesting.
Here is look at some key players from both the sides.
India
Rohit Sharma
The right-hander, who walked away with a man of the series performance in the ODI series, is in top form and will hold the key to India's innings. Rohit loves the ball coming onto the bat and can dispatch the seamers with ridiculous ease for boundaries and huge sixes. Rohit, who is set to open the innings, will be keen to provide a solid start to India as other middle order batsmen can take full advantage of the platform provided by the batsman.
Yuvraj Singh
The dashing left-hander, though, might not have played in India colours for a long time, still remains to be a dangerous batsman. If Yuvraj gets going, there are very few bowlers in world cricket that can stop him from scoring. Yuvraj should be more than determined to perform as his performance in the T20 series against Australia could well determine his future as well. Apart from being an explosive batsman, he is more than handy with his slow left-arm.
Ashish Nehra
The Delhi bowler, who last played for India in 2011, has been a forgotten figure, but Nehra with his variation can be a huge bowler for India in the T20 series. Apart from his variation, he is a natural swing bowler, which has helped him take a number of international wickets with the new ball as well. With bowlers such as Umesh Yadav and co. having suffered in the ODI series, Nehra is expected to play an important role as the senior most bowler in the team.
Australia
Chris Lynn
India fans may not have witnessed much of the right-hander, but he is one of the most ferocious cricketers in world cricket as he can hit the ball a long way. The recently concluded Big Bash League witnessed the best of Lynn, who scored an amazing 378 runs in 8 matches with a strike rate of 173.9, which helped him clinch the player of the series award as well. Now, the Australia batsman will be eager to carry his form into the international arena as well.
David Warner
Irrespective of the format, Warner is a lethal batsman, who can tear apart bowlers in a matter of overs, and the T20 format seems to be tailor-made for him. The left-hander, who opens the innings for Australia, will be keen to thrash the Indian seamers all around the park and allow the likes of Steve Smith and Lynn to take it from there. With Warner strong on both sides of the wicket, the India bowlers, if they spray in line and length, will not be spared by the left-hander.
Shaun Tait
The Australian has never been a regular feature of the national team, but when he plays, he is their strike bowler, primarily with his pace, which sends shivers down the batsman's spine. The right-arm fast bowler, who has a long run up, gets great bounce, which can trouble the India batsmen. Tait is making a comeback into the team after a long absence and will be keen to impress and put his case forward for a regular spot in the team.
