AUS vs IND 2025: Why is Sanju Samson not playing in AUS vs IND 3rd T20I?

Published - 02 Nov 2025, 13:31 IST | Updated - 02 Nov 2025, 13:47 IST

India will look to draw level in the five-match series against Australia by winning the third T20I at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart on Sunday, November 2. After the first game was washed out in Canberra, Australia picked up a four-wicket win in the second encounter in Melbourne to go 1-0 up in the series. They chased down a 126-run target in 13.2 overs after Josh Hazlewood delivered a match-winning spell with the new ball in the first innings.

Suryakumar Yadav finally won the toss and had no hesitation in opting to bowl first. He opined that the ball would come onto the bat better in the second innings. Meanwhile, Mitchell Marsh said that the wicket looks great for batting. The Aussie captain set his sights on posting a big total batting first.

India made wholesale changes to their line-up after losing the second T20I. Instead of Sanju Samson, Harshit Rana, and Kuldeep Yadav, the Men in Blue brought in Jitesh Sharma, Washington Sundar, and Arshdeep Singh. Suryakumar didn't mention the reason behind the changes. However, there have been no reports of injury concerns for the players who were benched.

Meanwhile, Australia had to make a forced change as the in-form Josh Hazlewood was rested for this clash, and he has been replaced by Sean Abbott in the playing XI.

We are going to bowl first. The ball will come on nicely to the bat in the 2nd innings. Happy to take it one game at a time. We have three changes - Jitesh, Arshdeep and Washington come in.

It's a belter of a wicket. Want to get off to a good start and post a big total. We have just the one change - Abbott is in for Hazlewood.

Samson likely to return to Delhi Capitals for IPL 2026

Mitchell Marsh (C), Travis Head, Josh Inglis (WK), Tim David, Matthew Short, Mitchell Owen, Marcus Stoinis, Xavier Bartlett, Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Matthew Kuhnemann.

Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Tilak Varma, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah.