India vs Australia 2019: India's strongest XI for T20I series

India's upcoming T20I series against Australia has been piquing interest among the fans. Not only does the series mark India's final T20 outing ahead of the World Cup but also gives us a chance to witness some young and exciting talents.

Comprising two T20Is, the series will be flagged off with the first game on 24 February in Visakhapatnam. The second game is slated to be played on 27 February at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

The Indian selectors have decided to rest a few mainstream players ahead of the ODI series, which has opened the gates for some newer prospects; with young leg-spinner Mayank Markande being the most notable among them.

Australia, on the other hand, is likely to take the field with a full barrel. The likes of Aaron Finch, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis and Pat Cummins among others are expected to lead the charge as the team from Down Under looks to cause a major upset.

India's squad for T20Is: Virat Kohli (C), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, MS Dhoni, Rishabh Pant, Dinesh Karthik, Vijay Shankar, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Siddarth Kaul, Mayank Markande

Here, we take a look at what could be India's strongest playing XI to take on the Aussies in the upcoming series.

Openers: Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan

Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma

In recent times, few opening pairs have been as effective as that of Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan. Perfectly capable of taking the game away from the opposition right from the word go, Sharma and Dhawan have forged an indomitable bond over the past few years.

It's no longer a secret that India often does well when its deadly opening pair delivers the goods. The case would be no different when the men in blue take on the Aussies in the T20I series. Be it setting a healthy score or chasing a daunting target, the explosive partnership of Sharma and Dhawan will continue to hold the key for India.

Middle Order: Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, MS Dhoni and Dinesh Karthik

MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli

The no 3 slot in the Indian team is a no-brainer. Skipper Virat Kohli is back in the mix and will assume charge of the crucial position at one-down. Regarded as one of the modern day masters, Kohli would undoubtedly serve as Australia's biggest hurdle in the bilateral series. The run-machine, in combination with Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan, forms an envious top order for the Indians and will be looking to dominate with his class yet again.

Young sensation, Rishabh Pant is an exciting prospect at no 4. Possessing the power game to tear into the opposition's bowling attack with immediate effect, Pant can be quite intimidating in the T20 format. The youngster would be an ideal fit in the middle order, given the experience of the other batsmen who are likely to bat above and below him the order.

The flamboyance and flair of Rishabh Pant can be perfectly complemented by the class of MS Dhoni at the subsequent slot. Apart from shouldering the middle-order responsibilities with his experience and the ability to go big at the death, Dhoni will also be banked on for his ever-so-reliable wicketkeeping skills.

A T20 veteran by now, Karthik's recent heroics have earned him the reputation of a hard-hitting batsman. From scripting one of India's most famous glories in the Nidahas Trophy final in 2018 to nearly pulling off another heist against New Zealand in the 3rd T20I earlier this month, the Tamil Nadu cricketer has proved his skill time and again.

And given that he has been omitted from the ODI squad, Karthik might just be filled with the spite to prove the selectors wrong.

All Rounders: Hardik Pandya and Krunal Pandya

Hardik Pandya and Krunal Pandya

An established superstar duo for Mumbai Indians and fast gaining popularity in the Indian colours as well, the Pandya brothers offer quality all-round services in the T20 format. While Hardik has already proved his mettle with both bat and ball on the international scene, Krunal too has grabbed eyeballs in his relatively shorter stint thus far.

Hardik, who is most likely to be slotted at no 7, is another Indian player who can breathe fire at the crease. Thanks to his ability with the ball in hand as well, the 25-year-old lends much-needed balance to the Indian team and has raised hopes of being the answer for the country's long-time search for a reliable fast bowling all-rounder.

Hardik's elder brother, Krunal, on the other hand, provides more utility with his left-arm spin. His record for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL has gained him the tag of a street-smart cricketer with intuitive T20 skills. In addition to having the happy knack of picking wickets regularly on Indian pitches, the senior Pandya can also hit the long-ball if the need arises, making him a good option at no 8.

Bowlers: Umesh Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal and Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah and Yuzvendra Chahal

Fast, hostile and intimidating, Umesh Yadav has been looked upon as one of India's most promising pace bowlers. Unfortunately, as many fans would know, the Indian cricketer has been plagued by inconsistency to find himself in and out of the team on a regular basis.

However, despite being "not-so-impressive" post-IPL 2018, the selectors have reposed their faith in Yadav, thanks to his memorable performance in the recently concluded Ranji Trophy. With Bhuvneshwar Kumar being rested for the T20I series, the experienced bowler once again gets a chance to hit the mark and he wouldn't want to disappoint.

Now that Kuldeep Yadav has been rested, leg-break talent, Yuzvendra Chahal would spearhead the spin-attack for India in the upcoming T20I series against Australia. A wily spin bowler who has been outfoxing batsmen all over, Chahal would pose as one of Australia's bigger threats, given their vulnerability to spin bowling.

India's pace sensation, Jasprit Bumrah returns to the squad after receiving a much-needed break. From picking up crucial wickets to tightening the screws in the death overs, Bumrah has been India's go-to man in the past few years. The fast-bowler would be raring to go ahead of the World Cup and gain some match-practice before flaunting his skills in England this May.