India rested middle-order batter Tilak Varma for the fifth and final T20I against Australia at The Gabba in Brisbane on November 8. The Men in Blue hold a 2-1 lead after victories in the third and fourth matches of the series. Rinku Singh replaced Varma in the playing eleven, marking his first appearance in this series. Australian captain Mitchell Marsh won the toss and chose to field first, citing the need to assess the pitch conditions. India's captain Suryakumar Yadav, who lost all five tosses in the series, expressed satisfaction with his team's performance despite the toss results. Australia maintained the same eleven from the previous game, which featured four changes from earlier matches. Both teams aim for different outcomes, with India seeking a series victory and Australia hoping to level the five-match fixture.
Team Changes and Playing Elevens
India made a single change for this crucial match, bringing in Rinku Singh for his series debut while resting Tilak Varma. The decision reflects India's strategy to manage workload and test different combinations in bilateral series. Suryakumar Yadav emphasized the importance of understanding team goals and maintaining flexibility in batting positions, especially in T20 cricket where roles beyond openers often rotate. Australia, having made four changes in their previous outing, decided to field an unchanged eleven. Mitchell Marsh's team stuck with Josh Philippe and Josh Inglis as their opening pair, supported by all-rounders Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell in the middle order.
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