India aim for series comeback at Hobart:Will Arshdeep Singh get a chance? Jasprit Bumrah 2 wickets away from 100 T20I scalps

After a disappointing display in front of a packed MCG crowd in Melbourne, Indian batters will aim to restore their pride in the third T20I against Australia. Notably, apart from Abhishek Sharma’s well-balanced knock, only Harshit Saxena was able to reach double digits on the Melbourne pitch. With Josh Hazlewood as the wrecker-in-chief, taking 3 wickets while conceding 13 runs in 4 overs. Nathan Ellis and Xavier Bartlett assisted him well with their 2 wickets each. Eventually, India lost that game by 4 wickets and the absence of a class seamer like Arshdeep Singh from the playing 11 raised eyebrows. However, head coach Gautam Gambhir would not want to succumb to the No. 2 T20I team, Australia, no matter whether it’s on Australian soil​​​​. The question of Arshdeep Singh staying on the bench The high-risk, high-reward strategy of extreme batting depth in playing 11 has been a major point of concern for India. Its failure was evident on the MCG pitch as Men in Blue got all out on 125. Meanwhile, Arshdeep Singh could not make it to the playing 11 despite being the only bowler to have 100 T20I wickets. Even former India R Ashwin was critical of the strategy, stating on his YouTube channel, “If Bumrah is not playing, Arshdeep Singh’s name would be first on the list.” Moreover, India’s No. 8 in the past 15 to 20 games has faced an average of five balls per innings. So the strategy is proving effective on the statistical end as well. Former Aussie skipper Aaron Finch also mentioned during the last T20I game that too much batting depth often leaves batters with less burden of responsibility. So they usually pass on the baton to others. Even in that case, Harshit Rana was batting at 17 off 29 balls, which is not a good stat in the T20I format. So, Indian management might look to make a change there. Relief for India batters In the absence of Josh Hazlewood, considering the Ashes series ahead, Indian batters can breathe easy, but the seamers will get help in Hobart. Yet Hazlewood not playing is a big relief factor, as Abhishek Sharma also admitted, “It would obviously be a relief. I have never faced such bowling.” IND vs AUS 3rd T20I match details Match: India vs Australia 3rd T20I Date: 2 November 2025 Time: 1:45 PM IST Venue: Ninja Stadium (Bellerive Oval), Hobart, Australia Toss: 1:15 PM IST Where to watch: Star Sports Network (broadcasting), Jio Hotstar (Streaming) or follow live updates on the Bhaskar English app. Head-to-Head record In terms of head-to-head in Australia in the T20I format, Australia hold the edge. However, statistically, India have won seven of the 14 T20I matches in Australia, with two matches ending in no result. Pitch report in Hobart It can be a high-scoring game at the Ninja stadium in Hobart. However, seamers might get a little bit of help with one end of the ground mostly open, aiding swing. With an average score around 150 at the ground, dew might also come into play later. Weather conditions: Hobart It is expected to be a warm and sunny day in Bellerive on Sunday. The temperatures are expected to fluctuate between 13 and 26 degrees Celsius. However, there is a 90% chance of rain at night, so showers might interrupt the second innings in worst-case scenario.