First T20 International of Team India’s Australia tour continues Scheduled to take place at Manuka Oval, Canberra on Wednesday, October 29, 2025. This high-stakes encounter marks the beginning of the five-match T20I series between the world’s two top T20 teams.
AUS vs IND, 1st T20I: Preview
Australia are entering the series with a mix of experienced campaigners and exciting new talent. While key players like Glenn Maxwell are unavailable for the first two T20Is, the team boasts the leadership of Mitchell Marsh and relies on a balanced bowling attack that includes both pace and spin options. With some recent wins in T20Is, Australia will be looking for home advantage on a pitch that has historically favored aggressive stroke play and tactical bowling.
On the other hand, despite the lack of all-rounders, India have been performing strongly in recent T20 matches. hardik pandyaWho has been dropped from the team for some unknown reason. The Indian team is loaded with power hitters at the top, including fast scorers like captain Suryakumar Yadav and Abhishek Sharma. India’s bowling looks to be strong with a mix of experienced fast bowlers and powerful spinners, aiming to take advantage of the varying pitch conditions at Manuka Oval.
Manuka Oval pitch report
The pitch at Manuka Oval in Canberra is expected to provide a batting-friendly surface for the first T20 match between Australia and India. Historically, T20I matches at this venue have seen an average score of 150 in the first innings, with good bounce and pace for the fast bowlers as well as slower spin options for the spinners. The pitch is a bit slow but benefits batsmen who take time to settle down before increasing the pace.
Manuka Oval has hosted 22 T20I matches, where teams batting first have won 10 times and teams chasing have won 9 times, making it relatively balanced. A score above 180 is generally competitive at this position.
Canberra weather forecast
A cool week is forecast for Canberra, with temperatures expected to be between 9°C and 15°C on match day. Although there is a slight chance of rain, any rainfall is expected to be brief and pass. Importantly, no heavy drizzle is expected during the first T20 match, which will begin at 7:15 pm local time (1:45 pm IST). The forecast indicates some rain in the early morning, but conditions are expected to clear before match time.
The weather during the game will be mostly cloudy with moderate humidity, which is expected to drop to a minimum of 50 percent. Strong winds with a speed of around 17 km/h are expected.
Also read: Parthiv Patel predicts India’s playing XI for the first T20 match against Australia
