Having lost the ODI series, India needed a quick change in a format where they had a lot to prove despite the benefits derived from IPL. They managed to get through the ODI reversal by winning the T20I series 2-1, despite some mid-order setbacks.
Meanwhile, Australia, which halted India’s 10-win streak in a row in T20I courtesy of their spinning twins Mitchell Swepson and Adam Zampa, will reflect on a number of missed opportunities, particularly their back-seam attack. Here are the key takeaways for both parties.
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Natarajan without nerves leaves a mark
Exactly one month ago, T Natarajan was named as one of four net pitchers on the India tour of Australia. The team management was impressed with his left arm variety. With India’s quick bowling attack looking faded in her first two losses on the tour, she received an ODI debut in similar circumstances to Jasprit Bumrah in 2016. She will return home with a newborn, whom she has yet to meet, after having made an impact in three of the four white ball games in which he participated.
Natarajan’s spell of 4-0-20-2 in Australia’s 194 total in the second T20I helped India back off a bit before Hardik Pandya helped finish the chase. Natarajan finished the series with six wickets in three games and an economy rating of 6.91. This did not earn him the Player of the Series award, but Pandya, the winner, certainly underlined its impact. Kohli’s death bowler in Bumrah’s absence, Natarajan proved there was more to him than just his ability to catch Yorkers. His temperament and calm under pressure have stood out, all promising signs one year away from the T20 World Cup.
The Pandey-Iyer-Samson question
None of the three managed to finalize a position. Sanju Samson got excited as he often does with his six hits, but couldn’t take advantage of his starts. Manish Pandey had only one outing, where he fought. Shreyas Iyer had a match-winning cameo between two ordinary outings. With Suryakumar Yadav waiting on the wings, and India potentially having to move KL Rahul in order when Rohit Sharma gets in shape, Pandey, Iyer, Samson, Suryakumar and Rishabh Pant could battle for two batting positions on the team. Also, it is quite possible that there will only be one place at stake in the XI if India decides that Ravindra Jadeja and Pandya, in their current form, can hit at numbers 5 and 6.
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Sundar and Chahal Join India’s Bowling Variety
Having been left out of India’s first T20I after an exceptional IPL season for Royal Challengers Bangalore (21 wickets in 15 games and a 7.08 economy rate), Yuzvendra Chahal left a mark as a concussion surrogate to pick up three wickets and win India the first T20I without help.
Washington Sundar also had an excellent series, delivering frugal spells and going just 7.08 in the 12 overs he threw. Both grounds, Aaron Finch and Steven Smith, arrived in the final T20I. But it was in the first match of the series, where he went 0-for-16 in four overs, that set the tone when India successfully defended 161. While Chahal cleverly used the advantage of high-limit bowling on one side, Sundar he varied their lengths, and his insistent lines forced hitters to try to improvise early in innings.
Now imagine India’s bowling attack with a fully fit Pandya, Jadeja, Sundar, Chahal and three seamers, potentially Natarajan, Bumrah and one from Shardul Thakur or Mohammed Shami.
Wade hits, short failures
Not Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc (for two games), Josh Hazlewood and Kane Richardson. Aaron Finch missed the second T20I. David Warner missed the entire series with a groin injury. This was an opportunity for the backups to be lifted. Where D’Arcy Short could not capitalize, Matthew Wade, the backup captain, did so with two half centuries, including a 50-ball 83 in Tuesday’s final game.
WATCH ALSO (Indian Subcontinent Only): Featured Video: Stunner Sams Catch Dhawan
Without Marcus Stoinis, Moisés Henriques enjoyed good bowling returns but couldn’t replicate that hit with the bat. Daniel Sams and Andrew Tye came up short trying to defend 72 of the last six with the Australian series on the line. Faced with an almost similar situation, their twins Swepson and Zampa combined to go 4 of 44 in seven overs to help Australia secure a consolation victory.
Had Ashton Agar not been ruled out, Swepson may not have been called up to the team. Zampa provided Australia with control in the middle of the overs in the face of some serious punches. Among their three wickets, the one that eliminated Pandya in the final T20I with India needing 43 of 18 was a game changer.
Who enters the middle order?
Like India, there are also some contenders in Australia’s middle order. Alex Carey, Wade, Henriques, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green and Short could possibly fight for limited hitting points. This considering that Warner and Finch will meet at the top of the order, with Steven Smith and Glenn Maxwell floating with Stoinis. Australia potentially has a five-game series against New Zealand and the BBL to cut their combinations for the T20 World Cup in October 2021.
Shashank Kishore is a senior deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo
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