Rishabh Pant, Jason Behrendorff and other players to watch out for in T20 series

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  • Rishabh Pant is primed to shine for India.

    There is no shortage of hype as Australia and India get ready to lock horns across all three formats Down Under.

    While all eyes will be trained on the four-match Test series which gets under way in December, it will be the T20 battle between the two sides which will serve to whet the appetite.

    With the No3 ranked Aussies squaring off against the No2 ranked Indians, we take a look at three players from either side who could make the difference in the T20 series.

    AUSTRALIA

    CHRIS LYNN

    The hard-hitting Queensland batsman will be playing on his home ground when the two sides meet in the series opener at the Gabba, Brisbane.

    Lynn has seen shoulder injuries derail his once promising career but the 28-year-old remains one of the most fearsome strikers of the cricket ball.

    The right-hander will be tasked with providing Australia with the explosive starts and should he gets going, India’s bowlers could be in for a really tough time.

    He hasn’t looked at his best since his return from injury in the series against Pakistan, however, playing in the comforts of his home ground might just be what Lynn needs.

    Plenty of brute power in those shoulders.

    Plenty of brute power in those shoulders.

    BILLY STANLAKE

    It has been over a year since Stanlake made his international debut and the express pacer is looking like the real deal for Australia judging by his performances since then.

    The 24-year-old has established himself as a regular in Australia’s limited-overs setup and he will be given the new ball responsibilities in the T20 series.

    The right-armed quick has developed a knack of delivering wickets for his side early on with his raw pace and steep bounce as he looked to be in great rhythm during Australia’s tour of the UAE.

    How he goes against India’s excellent top-order will have a big bearing on the series.

    Stanlake will bring the heat to the Indians with his pace.

    Stanlake will bring the heat to the Indians with his pace.

    JASON BEHRENDORFF

    Almost a year ago, Behrendorff made his Australia debut in a T20 clash against India at Ranchi. The fast-bowler bowled the just one over in the match but he showed what the fuss was all about with figures of 4-21 in the next T20 at Guwahati to secure an eight-wicket win for Australia.

    It has been one year since that series and Behrendorff has played only one more T20 for Australia in that period due to injuries. Now back to full fitness, the pacer will be keen to impress against the same opponents, this time in Australia’s own backyard.

    Left-arm pacers have traditionally been India’s kryptonite and Behrendorff will provide an excellent test in that regard.

    Behrendorff is back to full fitness once again.

    Behrendorff is back to full fitness once again.

    INDIA

    RISHABH PANT

    There will be no MS Dhoni in the T20 series for India as the team management prepare for life without the veteran wicketkeeper-batsman. Instead, it will be Dinesh Karthik and young Rishabh Pant who will share wicketkeeping duties for the visitors.

    In Pant, India have a young and fearless batsman who is capable of taking the attack to the opponents under any given situation. The left-hander has made quite the impression with his explosive batting ever since he made his international debut and he can provide the crowds with plenty of entertainment with his gung-ho approach.

    It will be Pant’s maiden tour of Australia and the 21-year-old is poised to make a big impression.

    Pant will be keen to impress in his maiden Australia tour.

    Pant will be keen to impress in his maiden Australia tour.

    KHALEEL AHMED

    While Pant will provide the fireworks with the bat, there will be another young left-hander who will be crucial to India’s hopes with the ball. The 20-year-old has made a bright start to life in international cricket with some excellent performances with the new ball in hand in India’s recent clashes against the West Indies.

    Capable of shaping the ball nicely into the right-handers, Khaleel’s emergence has given India some much needed variety in the fast-bowling attack with his left-armed pace.

    The Australia series will be an excellent test of his long-term international credentials and he will be eager to take his chance.

    Khaleel (C) has made big strides in recent times.

    Khaleel (C) has made big strides in recent times.

    ROHIT SHARMA

    The India limited-overs opener has been in sensational form for some time now and comes into the series on the back of some impressive outings.

    The deputy India skipper already holds the record for the most ODI double tons and he showed he is not far behind in T20 cricket either by recently becoming the world’s first batsman to register four international centuries (four) in the format.

    With the form he’s currently in, Australia’s bowlers will have their task cut out in the three T20s. A fifth T20I ton is not out of the question for Rohit if he gets his eye in early.

    Rohit Sharma is on fire in white-ball cricket at the moment.

    Rohit Sharma is on fire in white-ball cricket at the moment.

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