With 13 wins out of 20 games, including the Asia Cup title and a silver medal finish at the Commonwealth Games, it has been a largely successful year in the T20I circuit for India who will be hoping to cap off 2022 with a series win against Australia at home. But the Alyssa Healy-led team is a tough nut to crack compared to some of the oppositions India have faced in the Asia Cup, and they will be wary of Australia’s powerful line-up and also their impressive record against India in India (6-1). It will also be a good challenge for Hrishikesh Kanitkar, who takes over as the batting coach of India, who are without a head coach presently as Ramesh Powar has been shifted to the NCA.

India’s batting has been mostly powered by Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues and Shafali Verma, the top three run-getters for India in 2022 who are also among the top ten in the batting charts this year having each scored in excess of 400 runs. The batting will revolve around the top four, which includes skipper Harmanpreet Kaur. But India’s record against Australia since 2021 hasn’t been great, with four losses and one no result. Barring Harmanpreet and Rodrigues, who average 30-plus against Australia in the said period, most of the batters have struggled. Renuka Singh, Rajeshwari Gayakwad and Deepti Sharma, who have picked up 17 wickets combined against Australia since 2021, will have to shoulder the bulk of the responsibilities with the ball. This series will also serve as a good preparation for Shafali and Richa Ghosh, who are part of the India under-19 squad for the inaugural Under-19 T20 World Cup which will be held in South Africa in January.

After a 2-0 series victory at home in October 2021, Australia next faced India twice in Birmingham in July-August 2022, winning both games and won the gold medal. Since then, Meg Lanning has taken an indefinite break from cricket while Rachael Haynes has retired. Tahlia McGrath (289 runs in 6 innings) and Beth Mooney (244 runs in 8 innings), who are among Australia’s top three run-getters this year, will be key for Australia’s fortunes along with Ellyse Perry and Healy. Although Healy has not had the best of years in T20Is, scoring only 78 runs in nine innings, she did get amongst the runs in the WBBL which should give her confidence. Alana King, the leading wicket-taker for Australia this year, should enjoy the Indian conditions which will be suitable for her leg-breaks. Jess Jonassen, McGrath and Megan Schutt will be the other key bowlers for Australia.

When: December 9, 11, 14, 17 and 20 at 7:00 PM IST

Where: First two matches at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, last three at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai

What to expect: Batting friendly wickets and temperatures nearing 30 degree Celsius.

Team news:

India: Pooja Vastrakar was unavailable for this series while the selectors left Sneh Rana, Kiran Navgire and Dayalan Hemalatha out of the squad. Harleen Deol and Yastika Bhatia, who were left out for the England series and the Asia Cup, return to the setup. Uncapped Anjali Sarvani and Devika Vaidya, who last played a T20I in November 2014, have been included in the squad.

Squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Radha Yadav, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Renuka Singh Thakur, Meghna Singh, Anjali Sarvani, Devika Vaidya, S Meghana, Richa Ghosh, Harleen Deol.

Australia: Phoebe Litchfield and Kim Garth, who previously represented Ireland, are on their maiden tour with the Australian team. Heather Graham, who represented Australia in an ODI back in October 2019, has also been included in the squad.

Alyssa Healy (c), Tahlia McGrath (vc), Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Heather Graham, Grace Harris, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland.