🏏Series: India tour of Australia, 2025, Aus vs India,4th T 20🏏

🏏Series: India tour of Australia, 2025, Aus vs India,4th T 20🏏

It's Ashes squad selection day in Australia, and it's likely that most cricketing headlines will revolve around who's made the final cut for Perth. Unless you're here on the Gold Coast, which is gearing up to host the first-ever Indian men's international in town.

Though the build-up to the match is not screaming at you from the billboards or even any posters around the Coast, Indian cricket fans in the region have been lapping up the tickets. And it promises to be a near sell-out at the Carrara on Thursday evening.

After a washout in Canberra, we've seen two pretty high-octane T20Is in Melbourne and Hobart. If Australia were the one who steam rolled India at the MCG courtesy an all-time great T20I spell from Josh Hazlewood, it was the Indian bowlers' turn to set up the win with the ball.

We have also seen some outrageous power hitting in both contests, where the ball has travelled to further than what we're used to in this part of the world. Even if the bowling standards on offer has been pretty high class overall. In a way it's been in keeping with the high quality you expect from the best two teams in the format.

After a nostalgia-ridden ODI series and in the lead-up to the most highly-anticipated Ashes in a long time, it's easy to have glossed over these five T20Is as we get into the cricket summer. But the two teams have ensured that the interest levels will remain high over the next few days in the state of Queensland as the series reaches its end with everything still to play for on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane, come Saturday.

When: Australia v India, 4th T20I, November 6, 2025, 18:15 hrs Local Time, 19:15 hrs AEDT, 13:45 hrs IST

Where: Gold Coast Stadium (Carrara), Gold Coast

What to expect: There will be no talk of weather around this contest except for it being sunny and excellent on the Gold Coast. After 82,000 packed the MCG last week, there'll be a relatively fewer people in attendance here at Carrara, with the capacity at around 20,000 at this boutique venue. But the hype around this being the Indian men's first game here has been massive enough for us to get another full house. There's a bit of an unknown around how the surface will play here but the boundaries aren't the biggest, and there will be potentially a lot of balls flying in the direction of the crowds.

Team News

Australia

With Travis Head having decided to get some Sheffield Shield action in as part of his conditioning and preparation for the Ashes, there's an opening for Mitch Owen to go up top alongside captain Mitch Marsh. The return of Glenn Maxwell will be a major boost in terms of experience and also quality to the middle order, which looks pretty ominous with his addition. It'll be interesting to see if Mahli Beardman gets a nod in what will be an exciting first look at the young fast bowler at this level.

Probable XI:Mitch Marsh (c), Mitch Owen, Josh Inglis (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Tim David, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Short, Nathan Ellis, Xavier Bartlett, Matthew Kuhnemann, Mahli Beardman/Ben Dwarshius

India

India rung in the changes after the MCG and it worked out well for them in Hobart with Washington Sundar playing a key role with the bat. Though the top order should remain the same as Shubman Gill continues to try and finish this tour on a high with the bat, the middle order should stay the same too with Jitesh Sharma having impressed with his cameo.

Probable XI: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Jitesh Sharma (wk)/Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah

The T20I series between India and Australia is reaching a crucial stage, with just two matches remaining. The fourth T20I takes place on Thursday at Carrara Oval, Queensland, with the series currently tied at 1-1. Both teams will be eager to assert dominance before the series decider. India, however, face a few challenges, as captain Suryakumar Yadav and vice-captain Shubman Gill have struggled to find form so far, failing to deliver impactful performances. This has placed extra responsibility on Abhishek Sharma to provide explosive starts and set the tone at the top of the order in the remaining games...

Shubman has now gone six matches on the tour without registering a half-century, highlighting a concerning dip in form. His scores since the start of the ODI series read 10, 9, 24, 37*, 5, and 15. The lone bright spot came at Canberra, where he shared a steady partnership with captain Suryakumar Yadav.

Gill has struggled particularly against fuller-length deliveries that offer even slight movement, and for much of the series, he hasn’t displayed the authoritative, composed touch that has defined his batting in the past. This ongoing slump has raised questions about his ability to anchor the innings and provide the solid starts India relies on at the top of the order.

With Arshdeep Singh back in the mix, India’s bowling attack looks much stronger, even as Kuldeep Yadav has been rested to focus on the upcoming Test series against South Africa.

Team management has long faced a dilemma: Kuldeep and Arshdeep rarely feature together. When Kuldeep is included, Harshit Rana—who offers better batting depth—must also find a place. Conversely, when Arshdeep takes the field, the side often looks to include Washington Sundar, whose impact was evident in the third T20I, where his 49 off 23 balls proved decisive in India’s win.

With no Travis Head for the last two T20Is, Matthew Short is expected to open the innings with skipper Mitchell Marsh, while they will rely heavily on the firepower of Tim David in the middle. However, the return of Glenn Maxwell will also boost Australia's chances at Carrara Oval, Queensland.

Australia’s bowling unit may require some adjustments, as Sean Abbott struggled to make an impact. Either Ben Dwarshuis or Mitchell Marsh could be considered as potential replacements to strengthen the attack.

Shubman struggles vs AUS pacers!

India vs Australia 4th T20I LIVE Score: Shubman Gill has struggled to find his usual fluency at the crease, with bowlers exploiting his weakness against fuller deliveries that slightly move off the surface. The young opener, known for his elegance and timing, has looked a shadow of his dominant self, often falling while trying to force shots early in the innings. As India’s vice-captain, the pressure is mounting on Gill to rediscover the commanding form that once made him one of the most dependable batters in the lineup.

SKY needs to convert starts into big scores!

Captain Suryakumar Yadav has displayed flashes of his brilliance in the first and third T20Is, providing solid starts at the top of the order. With a month-long gap before India’s next series against South Africa, he will be keen to convert these starts into substantial scores and regain consistent rhythm.

Matthew Short to partner with Mitchell Marsh!

With Travis Head ruled out for the final two T20Is, Australia is likely to hand the opening slot to Matthew Short, who will partner captain Mitchell Marsh at the top of the order. Short’s inclusion adds fresh energy to the lineup, while Marsh will be tasked with anchoring the innings and providing stability in the absence of Head.

Arshdeep rises in Hobart!

With Arshdeep Singh back in the lineup, India’s bowling attack appears much stronger, even as Kuldeep Yadav has been rested to focus on the upcoming Test series against South Africa. Arshdeep made an immediate impact in the series, taking three crucial wickets in the third T20I

Abhishek Sharma - The standout batter!

Abhishek Sharma has continued to bolster his reputation as the world’s No. 1 T20 batter, delivering a commanding half-century and two rapid starts in the ongoing series. His consistent aggression at the top of the order has not only set the tone for India’s innings but also eased the pressure on struggling teammates, showcasing his ability to dominate bowlers across conditions.

Shubman, SKY under scanner!

Shubman Gill and Suryakumar Yadav are under mounting pressure to deliver big scores, as both have struggled for form in India’s ongoing T20I series. Their starts have been inconsistent, increasing the responsibility on players like Abhishek Sharma to provide explosive innings at the top of the order.