Former Team India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has selected his Men in Blue playing eleven for the upcoming first T20 match against Australia to be held at Manuka Oval, Canberra on Wednesday, October 29. Pathan ignored left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav and chose only one specialist spinner for the opening match of the series.
India was defeated by Australia in the ODI series under the leadership of Shubman Gill. Australia won the first two matches by seven and two wickets respectively. The visiting team registered an easy win by nine wickets in the last game and now they would like to maintain the winning streak in the upcoming T20 series as well.
Irfan Pathan selected India’s playing eleven for the first T20 match against Australia.
Irfan Pathan has announced his playing eleven for the opening T20 match against Australia, with Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill selected as the opening batsmen. Gill, who struggled during the Asia Cup, would like to regain his rhythm on Australian pitches.
Pathan chose Tilak Verma and captain Suryakumar Yadav for numbers three and four in the lineup. Abhishek and Tilak were among the standout performers during the Asia Cup 2025.
Sharma scored 314 runs at a blistering strike rate of 200, while Tilak added 213 runs in six innings. Suryakumar will be hoping to regain consistency after his disappointing form.
Pathan named Sanju Samson as the designated wicketkeeper-batsman, while Axar Patel and Shivam Dubey were included as all-rounders. He went with the same core group that participated in the Asia Cup.
Irfan Pathan chose Varun Chakraborty in place of Kuldeep Yadav in the playing eleven.
With Hardik Pandya ruled out due to injury, Irfan Pathan opted for a fast-paced lineup suited to Australian conditions. He named Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana as the frontline fast bowlers.
Pathan said Shivam Dubey and Axar Patel can provide depth in the middle order and overs. For the sole specialist spinner slot, he chose Varun Chakravarthy in place of Kuldeep Yadav, citing his ability to bowl in the powerplay.
Irfan Pathan’s playing XI for AUS vs IND 2025 1st T20I: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Verma, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dubey, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy
This is also not a big problem – Irfan Pathan
Irfan Pathan said Harshit Rana’s impressive cameo in the second ODI has increased the team management’s confidence in him as a lower-order option. Pathan said that selecting Kuldeep Yadav in the spin department would not be an issue.
“Harshit Rana’s cameo in the second ODI would have given a lot of confidence to the Indian team management. So if he plays at No. 8, India have the order up to No. 7, there are two all-rounders in Dubey and Axar, who can give you at least 6 overs. Then you can also play 2 fast bowlers in Arshdeep and Jasprit, but who will be that frontline spinner?” Pathan said on his YouTube channel
He said, “I am thinking of Chakravarthy because he can bowl a few overs in the powerplay if needed. India also need a mystery factor in their playing XI. But if the team management goes for Kuldeep, then it is not a big problem.”
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