AUS vs IND, 3rd T20I: Why Kuldeep Yadav and Sanju Samson are not playing in today's match?

In the crucial third T20I of the five-match series in the Australia tour, India have made three crucial changes, as Sanju Samson and Kuldeep Yadav have been benched along with Harshit Rana. 

Bellerive Oval in Hobart is hosting the third game of the series, while hosts Australia lead 1-0 after winning the second T20I by four wickets following the no result in the series opener. Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav won the toss in the Hobart T20I, as the crowd roared for that achievement, while the Indian skipper chose to bowl first. At the toss, he confirmed three changes, as the wicketkeeper Sanju Samson and left-arm chinaman Kuldeep Yadav have been benched, along with the right-arm fast bowler Harshit Rana.  

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AUS vs IND, 3rd T20I: Why Kuldeep Yadav and Sanju Samson are not playing

Sanju Samson scored only two runs in the previous T20I at MCG, and Jitesh Sharma has replaced him for the Hobart T20I. Although Sanju has been criticised for his inconsistent performances despite getting many opportunities in T20Is, he played some crucial roles in the Asia Cup T20I 2025 success, including scoring a valuable 24 runs in the Final against Pakistan, where he set a stable 57-run partnership for the fourth wicket with the hero Tilak Varma. Sanju was the third leading run-scorer for India in that tournament with 132 runs in four innings with an average of 33.00 and a strike rate of 124.52. If Sanju isn't injured, the latest drop may be harsh treatment for him.  

Meanwhile, Washington Sundar replaced Kuldeep Yadav for the Hobart T20I. This alteration may be to extend the batting line-up for the game, while the in-form Kuldeep will surely get more chances later. 

Also, India's leading T20I wicket-taker, the left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, has joined the playing XI as a replacement for the right-arm fast bowler Harshit Rana. 

Australia vs India: Hobart T20I Playing XIs

Australia Playing XI: Mitchell Marsh (Captain), Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Tim David, Mitchell Owen, Marcus Stoinis, Matt Short, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Sean Abbott, Matt Kuhnemann

India Playing XI: Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav (Captain), Tilak Varma, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah