Australia have made changes to their T20 approach since their early exit from T20 World Cup 2024 in West Indies and USA. Since India lifted the T20 World Cup 2024 in Barbados, Australia have the second-highest win percentage in the format. From 19 T20Is, they have won 16, lost only two whereas one ended in no result. Australia head coach Andrew McDonald believes that he has faith in the current T20 template which can win them the T20 World Cup 2026, provided they make slight changes in Indian and Sri Lankan conditions.
"There has been a shift," McDonald told reporters in Canberra, ahead of five-T20I series against Suryakumar Yadav-led India which will commence on October 29.
"We're 11 games in now from the initial conversation. When we set out on this journey, we'd failed in a couple of World Cups previously, so we wanted to shift and stretch the boundaries on what we thought we could do.
"So yeah, we have been more aggressive, we've played people in different positions. Tim David has batted a little bit higher than previously.
"Our admission was that we haven't been successful in a couple of campaigns. We've got to change things up. We've got to stretch ourselves.
"Is it the style that can win a World Cup? We believe so. Will we have to pivot and nuance it slightly, depending on whether we're in Colombo or Delhi or Kolkata? There's no doubt about that."
Australia set to take on the best
Australia will be without the services of their experienced campaigner Glenn Maxwell who has been ruled out of first two T20Is as he is yet to recover after undergoing wrist surgery. He backs the young lineup to go up against the likes of Jasprit Bumrah.
"You're playing against India, so it's a really good test on whether this style will hold up," said McDonald.
"They're the number-one ranked team in the world, I think we're number two. We're excited to test ourselves against the best.
"Those younger players that have got some opportunity, what better opportunity than to play against the best team in the world and stand up in that environment."
No Starc-Cummins but McDonald excited for new crop
With Mitchell Starc retired, Pat Cummins injured and Josh Hazlewood available for the first two T20Is, McDonald sees it as an opportunity for younger crop to showcase their talent. The youngest of them all is Mahli Beardman who is set to make his T20I debut after Hazlewood leaves to prepare for the Ashes 2025-26.
"We're gathering information around what that next crop will be. We've been so stable with Starc, Cummins, Hazelwood in white-ball formats," said McDonald.
"So to see Ellis shape as a frontline bowler, how we use him, to see Xavier Barlett, Sean Abbott now gets a little bit more runway in terms of pressing his claims as well, then Mahli Beardman joining us in the middle of this series is exciting.
"We're excited by that next crop."
India’s T20I record on Australian soil
The last time India visited Australia for a T20I series, the Virat Kohli won 2-1. India have played 12 T20Is against Australia in Australia. Out of 12, India have won seven, lost four whereas one ended in no result.