Leg-spinner Sangha recalled for T20I series against India

Cricket Australia on Monday announced the inclusion of leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha in the squad for the upcoming T20I series against India, with first-choice spinner Adam Zampa unavailable for the initial matches due to personal reasons.

Zampa’s wife, Harriet, is expecting their second child, prompting the leg-spinner to return home after Saturday’s third ODI in Sydney, a match India won by nine wickets. Zampa had missed the series opener in Perth but featured in Adelaide and Sydney, earning the Player of the Match award in Adelaide for his impressive spell.

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With his availability for the subsequent five T20Is still uncertain, Sangha’s recall offers a timely boost for Australia. The 23-year-old leg-spinner last represented the Kangaroos in 2023 and has seven T20I caps with 10 wickets to his name.

He made a stunning debut against South Africa, taking 4 for 31, and recently impressed on the Australia A tour of India, where he claimed seven wickets. Sangha also leads the One-Day Cup wicket charts this season with 10 scalps in four games for New South Wales.

Depending on pitch conditions, Sangha may team up with left-arm spinner Matt Kuhnemann in a dual-spin setup. The Australian squad is expected to undergo several player rotations during the series with Josh Hazlewood set to play the first two games in Canberra and Melbourne before departing to prepare for the Ashes, while Sean Abbott will exit the squad after the third T20I in Hobart.

Uncapped pacer Mahli Beardman, 20, is also set to join the squad from the third match onwards. Yet to make his first-class debut, Beardman could be in line for his maiden international appearance in the fourth match at Gold Coast.

The five-match T20I series begins at Manuka Oval, Canberra on October 29, followed by games in Melbourne (October 31), Hobart (November 2), Gold Coast (November 6) and Brisbane (November 8).

Australia updated T20I squad: Mitchell Marsh (c), Sean Abbott (games 1-3), Mahli Beardman (games 3-5), Ben Dwarshuis (games 4-5), Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood (games 1-2), Glenn Maxwell (games 3-5), Tim David, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Matthew Kuhnemann, Mitchell Owen, Josh Philippe (wk), Matthew Short, Xavier Bartlett, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa, and Tanveer Sangha.