IND vs AUS 3rd T20I: India Eyes Comeback as Hazlewood’s Absence Brings Hope in Hobart

After a disappointing collapse in Melbourne, Team India gets a crucial lifeline—Josh Hazlewood won’t be terrorizing their batting lineup anymore. As the five-match T20I series shifts to Hobart’s Bellerive Oval (nicknamed Ninja Stadium), India faces a must-win situation to stay alive in the series. With Australia leading 1-0 and momentum firmly in their favor, November 2’s clash promises edge-of-the-seat action under Hobart’s early-summer skies.

Match Day Essentials

The third T20I kicks off at 1:45 PM IST (8:15 PM AEDT) on Sunday, November 2, 2025, at Bellerive Oval in Hobart. India captain Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and elected to field—a strategic decision given the venue’s batting-friendly conditions and the team’s need to restrict Australia’s power-hitters.

For those eager to catch every ball, Star Sports Network broadcasts the match across India, while JioHotstar (formerly JioCinema) streams it live. Australian fans can tune in on Fox Sports and Kayo Sports. The global cricket community can follow live updates on ESPN Cricinfo.

IND vs AUS 3rd T20I: Key Information

IND vs AUS Melbourne Nightmare: What Went Wrong?

India’s 125 all-out in Melbourne exposed glaring vulnerabilities against quality pace bowling. Abhishek Sharma’s explosive 68 off 37 balls couldn’t mask the collective failure—the team lost four wickets for just 32 runs within the Powerplay. Josh Hazlewood’s pinpoint accuracy and disconcerting bounce around the corridor of uncertainty became India’s nightmare, claiming crucial scalps while conceding minimal runs.

The middle order crumbled under pressure. Captain Suryakumar Yadav, vice-captain Shubman Gill, and the experienced Sanju Samson couldn’t negotiate deliveries with extra bounce and seam movement—conditions rarely encountered in Asian cricket but typical of early-summer Australia.

Australia chased down 126 with four wickets and eight balls to spare, thanks to Mitchell Marsh’s 37 and Travis Head’s aggressive 31. India’s bowlers fought hard, but defending 125 against world-class power-hitters proved impossible.

Hazlewood’s Exit: India’s Golden Opportunity

The biggest news ahead of the Hobart clash? Josh Hazlewood has been rested to prepare for the Ashes, which begins later this month. His absence removes India’s most relentless tormentor—the bowler who single-handedly disrupted their rhythm throughout the ODI series and first two T20Is.

Sean Abbott replaces Hazlewood, bringing experience but not the same psychological edge. Abbott is a quality bowler, but he doesn’t generate the same bounce or possess Hazlewood’s uncanny ability to hit the perfect length repeatedly. India’s batsmen will breathe easier, though they still face Nathan Ellis, Xavier Bartlett, and potentially Glenn Maxwell’s off-spin.

Learn more about how pitch conditions affect modern T20 cricket on technosports.co.in.

Glenn Maxwell Returns: Australia’s Game-Changer

Australia welcomes back Glenn Maxwell after recovering from a fractured wrist that sidelined him since mid-September. Maxwell’s return adds a new dimension to Australia’s lineup, particularly against India’s spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy.

Maxwell’s T20 numbers against Indian wristspinners show a boom-or-bust tendency—a strike rate of 165.30 against Kuldeep but five dismissals in 49 balls, and 151.51 against Varun with five dismissals in 33 balls. Whatever unfolds, it’ll entertain. Maxwell may even bowl with the new ball against left-hander Abhishek Sharma, adding tactical intrigue.

Bellerive Oval: Venue Characteristics

Hobart’s Bellerive Oval produces mixed outcomes depending on timing. T20Is played here in January-February average first-innings scores of 190, while October-November matches drop to 148. Is this early-summer juice in the pitches? Or just coincidence?

The last T20I here saw Australia bowl Pakistan out for 117 before romping home in 11.2 overs. However, in February 2024, Australia and West Indies both crossed 200. The surface offers even contests—pacers enjoy bounce and movement early, batters scoring freely once settled, and spinners gaining grip under lights.

With short straight boundaries but long square boundaries, placement matters more than power. A total around 170-180 should be competitive, though chasing teams remain in the hunt. Weather forecasts predict cool temperatures (13-16°C), cloudy skies, and slight rain chances—nothing to threaten a full match.

India’s Lineup Changes: Will Arshdeep Finally Play?

India made three changes from Melbourne: Jitesh Sharma, Arshdeep Singh, and Washington Sundar replace players from the previous XI. The inclusion of left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh addresses a baffling omission that raised eyebrows throughout cricket circles.

Former India spinner Ravi Ashwin publicly criticized head coach Gautam Gambhir for leaving out Arshdeep, saying “he deserves to be there.” Arshdeep’s death-over prowess and ability to swing the new ball make him invaluable, especially at venues like Hobart where conditions assist seamers.

Washington Sundar’s inclusion provides batting depth and off-spin options against Australia’s left-handers Travis Head and Matt Short. Jitesh Sharma’s wicketkeeping skills offer flexibility, potentially allowing Sanju Samson to focus purely on batting.

Key Players to Watch

Suryakumar Yadav (India): The captain’s form remains a concern. His 360-degree stroke play and calm leadership inspire confidence, but he needs runs to silence critics questioning his place in the team. With 3,084 T20I runs at an average of 42.91 and strike rate of 167, SKY’s class is undeniable—he just needs one innings to rediscover rhythm.

Abhishek Sharma (India): The left-handed opener has been India’s standout performer with 936 runs in 26 matches at a strike rate of 200. His counterattacking 68 in Melbourne set the template for aggressive intent during Powerplay overs. If he fires again, India’s chances multiply exponentially.

Shubman Gill (India): The vice-captain’s elegant stroke play and tempo control make him crucial for steady starts. With 747 T20I runs at a strike rate over 140, Gill has shown glimpses but hasn’t delivered a match-winning knock this series. Hobart presents his opportunity.

Mitchell Marsh (Australia): The Australian captain leads from the front with explosive batting and intelligent field placements. His ability to dominate spin and pace equally makes him dangerous. After contributing 37 in Melbourne, Marsh will aim for bigger damage in Hobart.

Travis Head (Australia): Head’s ominous form continues terrorizing opponents. His aggressive approach during Powerplay overs sets up Australia’s innings, and India’s bowlers must find ways to dismiss him early before he dictates terms.

Series Context: India’s Back Against the Wall

After winning the ODI series 2-1, Australia struggled initially in T20Is—the Canberra opener washed out after nine overs. But their Melbourne dominance proved they’ve adapted to home conditions despite missing several frontline players.

India, conversely, looks like a team assembled with Asian conditions in mind. They want to be an all-weather T20 unit, but gaps remain evident. The T20 World Cup scheduled for February-March 2025 in India and Sri Lanka will feature entirely different conditions—minimal seam movement and bounce. Still, coach Gautam Gambhir wants versatility to win consistently everywhere.

Explore India’s preparation strategies for major tournaments on technosports.co.in.

What’s at Stake?

For India, this match is do-or-die. Losing would put them 2-0 down with two games remaining—a deficit nearly impossible to overcome. Victory keeps them alive at 1-1, turning the series into a best-of-three shootout.

For Australia, winning in Hobart creates an unassailable 2-0 lead, guaranteeing no series loss. That psychological advantage heading into the final two matches would be massive.

Beyond bilateral bragging rights, both teams eye T20 World Cup preparation. India wants proof they can dominate in challenging conditions, while Australia seeks validation that their young squad can compete with the world’s top-ranked T20I team even without several stars.

Match Prediction

Despite Australia leading the series and enjoying home advantage, Hazlewood’s absence levels the playing field significantly. India’s batting lineup possesses enough firepower to exploit this opportunity. If Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill provide a strong Powerplay foundation, and if Suryakumar Yadav rediscovers form, India can post competitive totals.

According to match prediction polls on ESPN Cricinfo, fans lean slightly toward Australia given their momentum and Maxwell’s return. However, T20 cricket’s unpredictability means one exceptional performance can swing momentum dramatically.

Expect a closely contested match with totals between 170-180. The team winning key individual battles—Abhishek vs Abbott, SKY vs Maxwell, Arshdeep vs Head—will likely claim victory. India’s bowling attack, if used intelligently, can restrict Australia. The batting must then deliver what Melbourne sorely lacked: partnerships and composure under pressure.

Final Thoughts

As the series shifts to picturesque Hobart, both teams face pivotal moments. India needs immediate redemption to salvage the tour, while Australia wants to assert complete dominance. Hazlewood’s rest provides India breathing room, but they must capitalize ruthlessly.

Will Suryakumar Yadav’s captaincy inspire a turnaround? Can Abhishek Sharma continue his purple patch? Will Maxwell’s return spark Australian brilliance? These questions make November 2’s encounter unmissable.

Cricket fans across the globe should tune in—this series is far from over, and Hobart’s Bellerive Oval stage is set for drama, intensity, and world-class T20 action that defines India-Australia rivalry at its finest.

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