INDvsAUS: All Eyes on Shubman Gill as India Chase Advantage Over Australia in Fourth T20I

Under-fire opener Shubman Gill will hope to silence critics with a commanding innings as Team India gear up to face Australia in the fourth T20 International on Thursday. With the series finely balanced at 1-1, India head into the contest brimming with confidence against an Australian side hit by key absences. The visitors will be without Josh Hazlewood and Travis Head, both opting out due to domestic and workload priorities, creating a golden opportunity for India to tilt the series in their favor before the decider at the Gabba.

Gill’s recent run in the white-ball leg of the tour has been far from ideal. Across his last six innings, the opener has failed to cross the fifty-run mark, scoring 10, 9, 24, 37 not out, 5, and 15. His struggles against fuller deliveries with slight movement have been evident, robbing him of the fluent strokeplay that characterizes his game. A big score at this stage would not only help steady his T20 credentials but also provide crucial momentum before his shift to red-ball duties for the upcoming Test series.

While Gill’s form remains a concern, his opening partner Abhishek Sharma has impressed with consistent starts and a fluent half-century that reaffirmed his stature as one of the most dependable T20 batsmen in the world. Captain Suryakumar Yadav, too, appeared to regain rhythm with a pair of brisk knocks in the first and third games. With a month-long break before the tour of South Africa, both batters will be keen to finish this series on a high note.

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India’s bowling line-up looks sharper following the inclusion of Arshdeep Singh, who has added a balance to the attack. The management made a strategic call by sending spinner Kuldeep Yadav back to focus on red-ball preparation, ensuring a flexible team composition. Washington Sundar’s all-round brilliance in the third T20, where his quick-fire 49 proved decisive, underlined the depth India possesses in their lower order.

Australia, meanwhile, face an uphill task in the absence of experienced campaigners. Skipper Mitchell Marsh and Tim David are expected to lead the batting charge, with Matthew Short likely partnering Marsh at the top. Their bowling unit might see tweaks, as pacer Sean Abbott struggled in the previous encounter, potentially opening the door for Ben Dwarshuis or Mahli Beardman. If India can exploit this depleted Australian roster, a 2-1 lead — and a confidence boost — seem well within reach.

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