Overview
- India kept Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma as the opening pair for the five-match T20I series, with the Canberra opener abandoned due to persistent rain.
- Sanju Samson told broadcasters he has opened and finished games before and is now prepared to contribute from the middle order.
- His shift down the order began at the Asia Cup after Gill’s return, where Samson tallied 132 runs in four innings including a fifty against Oman.
- Before the washout in Canberra, India reached 78/1 in 9.4 overs as Suryakumar Yadav reached 39 not out and Gill was 37 not out after Abhishek fell for 19 to Nathan Ellis.
- The series moves to the MCG on October 31, delaying fuller assessment of the retained opening combination until the weather allows more play.