The first T20 International of Team India’s ongoing tour to Australia is set to take place at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on Wednesday, October 29, 2025. This high-stakes encounter marks the start of a five-match T20I series between two of the world’s top T20 teams.
AUS vs IND, 1st T20I: Preview
Australia enters the series with a mix of experienced campaigners and exciting new talent. While key players like Glenn Maxwell are unavailable for the first two T20Is, the squad boasts the leadership of Mitchell Marsh and relies on a balanced bolwing attack featuring both pace and spin options. With a few recent wins in T20Is, Australia will seek home advantage on a pitch that has historically favoured aggressive stroke play and tactical bowling.
On the other hand, India are coming off a strong run in recent T20I fixtures, despite missing all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who is sidelined from the team due to an undisclosed reason. The Indian squad is packed with power hitters at the top, including skipper Suryakumar Yadav and rapid scorers like Abhishek Sharma. India’s bowling looks to be bolstered by a mix of experienced pacers and mighty spinners, aiming to exploit the Manuka Oval’s variable pitch conditions.
Manuka Oval Pitch Report
The Manuka Oval pitch in Canberra is expected to offer a batting-friendly surface for the 1st T20I between Australia and India. Historically, the venue has seen an average first-innings score of 150 in T20I matches, with good bounce and pace for fast bowlers, as well as slower spin options for the spinners. The pitch tends to be slightly slow but rewards batters who spend time settling in before accelerating.
The Manuka Oval has hosted 22 T20I matches, where teams batting first have won 10 times and teams chasing have won 9 times, showing it to be relatively balanced. Scores above 180 are generally competitive at this venue.
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Canberra Weather Forecast
There’s a forecast of a cool week in Canberra, with match-day temperatures expected to range between 9°C and 15°C. While there is a slight chance of rain, any showers are expected to be brief and passing. Importantly, no heavy drizzle is anticipated during the first T20I, which begins at 7:15 pm local time (1:45 pm IST). The forecast indicates some rain early in the morning, but conditions are expected to clear well before match time.
The weather will be mostly cloudy with moderate humidity, predicted to drop to a minimum of 50 percent during the game. Expect a noticeable breeze blowing at around 17 km/h.
