As India, led by skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, kicks off a high-stakes multi-format series against hosts Australia from February 15 to March 6, 2026, all eyes turn to the 1st T20I at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday at 1:45 PM IST.
The three-game T20I series sets the tone for a high-octane multi-format series, which also includes three ODIs and a pink-ball Test at Perth, with the visitors hungry to conquer Australian conditions. Among a star-studded lineup, three players stand out: Shafali Verma, Amanjot Kaur, and N Sree Charani. Their explosive form and untapped potential could spark India’s charge on the SCG’s vast outfield.
Shafali Verma
Shafali Verma, the destructive 22-year-old opening batter, arrives in Sydney with fireworks in store with the kind of form she is in recently. In 94 T20I innings across 95 matches, she has amassed 2,462 runs at a blistering strike rate of 134.68 and an average of 27.97, including 14 half-centuries.
Against Australia specifically, her 436 runs come at a strike rate of 139.74 and an average of 22.94 over 20 innings and matches, featuring a couple of half-centuries. Down under, she has tallied 287 runs at 142.78 strike rate and 22.07 average in 13 innings and matches; however, she’s yet to notch a half-century in Australia in this format. Expect the teen sensation, now matured into a powerhouse, to unleash her powerplay aggression and finally crack that elusive half-century at the SCG, silencing critics on challenging overseas conditions.
Amanjot Kaur
Amanjot Kaur, the 25-year-old all-rounder, has been India’s recent revelation, blending grit with flair. In 12 T20I innings across 21 matches, she has scored 185 runs at a strike rate of 131.20 and an average of 30.83, including a half-century. With the ball, her 8 wickets in 17 innings and 21 matches come at an average of 36 and an economy of 7.38.
Against Australia, she has 58 runs in five innings and matches so far. This marks her maiden tour Down Under, but her WPL exploits with Mumbai Indians in the recently concluded 4th edition fuel the hype: 139 runs at 133.65 strike rate and 23.16 average in 7 innings and 8 matches, plus 4 wickets at 9.80 economy in 7 innings and 8 matches. Versatile and unflappable, Amanjot could tilt tight chases or defences, proving her mettle in Australia’s pace-friendly cauldron.
N Sree Charani
Shree Charani, the 21-year-old left-arm spinner, is India’s X-factor with a wicked googly and drift. In T20Is, she boasts 15 wickets at an average of 19.26 and an economy of 7.84 across 10 innings and matches, including a four-wicket haul. Her breakout came in the 4th WPL edition with Delhi Capitals, where she ended as the joint 3rd highest wicket-taker overall and joint 2nd for her team, snaring 14 wickets at 22.35 average and 8.30 economy in 10 innings and matches, alongside Chinelle Henry.
On her first Australia tour, Charani’s recent purple patch positions her perfectly to exploit the SCG turn or contain in the middle overs. Watch her dismantle Australia’s middle order, turning the series opener into a spin spectacle. These three could define India’s intent in Sydney: power, all-round balance, and mystery spin. Will they deliver to give India an early lead in the T20I series?
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