India and Australia have revamped their T20I approach.
India and Australia are well and truly ahead of other T20I international sides, with their approach perfectly aligning with what the future demands. Both teams have been playing an attacking brand of cricket based on proper methods and personnel to execute the plans. That they have the resources to afford doing so obviously goes in their favour.
That’s why the upcoming series between India and Australia Down Under could set a benchmark for the T20I format. With two teams high on intent and nice batting pitches, the format is set to undergo a drastic change in general ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026. A run-fest is very much a possibility.
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It all started with Rohit Sharma’s India, who adopted a gung-ho approach in the shortest format after their T20 World Cup 2022 defeat. Since then, the team’s conscious effort has been to bat quickly, and it has continued even after Rohit’s retirement. There was a reason why they were unbeaten throughout the T20 World Cup 2024 campaign.
Meanwhile, Australia have been following the same route, but their rejuvenation started following their underwhelming performances in the same tournament. For instance, they have been the quickest scoring team (10.07), followed by England (9.83) and India (9.69) since the conclusion of the last T20 World Cup. India have moved to the third spot due to playing the Asia Cup on sluggish UAE tracks.
Since 2024, Australia have the highest run rate (10.37) in the powerplay, followed by England (10.20) and India (9.10). Australia still hold the top spot in the middle order, with a run rate of 9.59, but England’s rate drops drastically to 9.23. Meanwhile, India maintain the flow and score at 9.17, almost similar to England’s and their powerplay scoring rate.
In the death overs, India are easily the quickest, scoring 10.80 runs per over, followed by West Indies (10.47) and England (10.06). This suggests a pattern: India remain quick throughout the innings, Australia rule in the powerplay and middle overs, while England mostly flow in the powerplay and perform reasonably well at the death. It’s not that any of the teams have been below par; India have been too consistent with their scoring rate despite playing on the slow pitches of Zimbabwe and the UAE.
In this period, India have the best average (31.07), with Australia (28.98) and England (28.82) in the second and third spot. That suggests India have scored more runs without compromising the scoring rate. The latter two have mostly had decent to flat batting decks throughout this period.
Both India and Australia have opted for immense batting depth by playing an extra all-rounder in the XI. They have taken it to another level this year despite being light on the bowling front. For instance, India played Shivam Dube as the second pacer in the Asia Cup 2025 final, even after having Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana.
The pitches will be quick and bouncy, which will ease shot-making and allow batters to score quickly from the first ball. Then, the conscious effort to score briskly has been another aspect of both teams’ batting. It’s hard to see why they can’t take it to a whole new level in this series.
Similar conditions are expected in the T20 World Cup next year, at least on Indian decks. Since 2024, matches in India and Australia have a run rate of 9.37 and 9.24, respectively, in T20Is. Hence, this series will depict what to expect in the mega event next year.
England have been doing it, but India and Australia have better and consistent players to sustain their high tempo, irrespective of the pitches. The English team has shown flaws on slightly slow surfaces. Meanwhile, these two teams – India and Australia – are laced with firepower and skills and will dictate how T20Is should be played.
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