Ranchi, Oct 6 (IANS) After thrashing Australia 4-1 in the five-match One-day International (ODI) series, a confident India will aim to extend their dominance over the Kangaroos in the three-match T20 International series starting here on Saturday.
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\r\nWith a staggering 9-4 head-to-head record in favour of the hosts, and a 3-0 clean sweep in their previous meeting in Australia in January last year, India definitely look a formidable unit going into Saturday's encounter at the Jharkhand Cricket Association (JCA) International Stadium here.
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\r\nIndia will also be bolstered by the return of old war horses like Ashish Nehra, Dinesh Karthik and opener Shikhar Dhawan against a side with whom they have lost only once out of the five series played so far.
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\r\nThe rise of all-rounder Hardik Pandya and the guile of the wrist spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal have made life difficult for Australia in the one-day series.
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\r\nThe return of the 38-year-old Nehra will be a key factor for India as the left-arm pacer would add variety to the pace attack of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah.
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\r\nDhawan, who had opted out of the five-match ODI series, is back after attending to his ill wife, while Lokesh Rahul's inclusion ahead of an in-form Ajinkya Rahane will also add to the stiff competition in the top order.
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\r\nHis return from a shoulder injury has not been up to the mark as he did not get a chance in the ODI series but Rahul has been retained for the T20I series and he would look to make it count.
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\r\nAustralia, on the other hand will aim to gain some confidence before heading back to play the Ashes series in a month's time.
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\r\nBut their over dependence on the duo of skipper Steve Smith and his deputy David Warner have proved fatal during the 50-over series.
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\r\nThe tourists will hope for a better show from their middle order, including the likes of Glenn Maxwell and Travis Head, who failed to click as a unit during the ODIs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n