India and Australia are all set to face off in a thrilling five-match T20I series that begins on October 29 in Canberra. But days before the T20I series, Australia faced a major setback as their star player Adam Zampa will miss the start of the series due to personal reasons.
Adam Zampa, one of Australia’s most reliable bowlers in limited-overs cricket, will miss the start of the upcoming five-match T20I series against India. The star spinner was recently part of Australia’s 2-1 ODI series win over the Men in Blue at home.
Big blow for Australia as Adam Zampa to miss start of India T20I series
As reported by ESPNCricinfo, Zampa will stay at home as he and his wife, Harriet, await the arrival of their second child later this month.
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The 32-year-old previously missed the first ODI in Perth due to long distances, but returned in fine form in Adelaide, where he won the player of the match award.
He bowled 10 overs and conceded 50 runs in the final ODI at the SCG. His absence will be felt as Zampa is Australia’s leading wicket-taker in T20 internationals. The leg-spinner has 131 wickets in 106 T20Is and 196 wickets in 116 ODIs to his name so far for Australia.
Tanveer Sangha recalled to Australia’s T20I squad for India series
However, Australia found a strong replacement to keep their attack balanced. In fact, young leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha has been recalled to the T20I squad. Sangha has recently performed well for Australia A on the tour of India, taking 7 wickets in three one-day matches, and is currently the leading wicket-taker in the One-Day Cup with 10 wickets in just 4 matches for New South Wales.
If the pitch offers help to the spinners, the 23-year-old could form a strong spin attack with left-arm spinner Matt Kuhnemann in the upcoming T20I series against India. With Adam Zampa out for a short time, Tanveer Sangha now has a golden chance to prove himself.
The crucial series in India provides a perfect stage for the young spinner to showcase his talent and make an impact as Australia prepares for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026. Both India and Australia will use these T20I matches to fine-tune their teams ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, with several young players aiming to make a big impression.
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Australia plans smart player rotation ahead of busy season
Meanwhile, Australia’s T20I team is set to undergo a series of key changes as part of its plan to manage player workloads ahead of a busy summer. The selectors have opted for a smart rotation policy to keep their fast bowlers fresh and ready for the challenges ahead.
Senior pacer Josh Hazlewood will only play the first two matches of the five-match T20I series and then in Sydney before being given a break. The move is part of Cricket Australia’s strategy to keep Hazlewood fit and fresh for the upcoming Test season.
Meanwhile, seasoned all-rounder Sean Abbott will be available until the third T20I in Hobart before returning home for a short break. Amid these changes, the spotlight will also be on 20-year-old Mahli Beardman, the fiery young forward from Western Australia. Beardman is known for his raw pace and aggressive style, and he is expected to join the team later in the series.
