Australia bank on Gabba record as India eye series win

It's no longer referred to as the 'Gabbatoir' for good reason. Not too often or not by default anyway. As was the case for so many years. Not after Australia have won only two out of the last five Tests played at their erstwhile fortress.

While it's unlikely that anyone is going to reach out for that old trope this weekend, Australia do have a rather impressive record at the Gabba when it comes to T20I cricket. Even if it isn't the biggest sample size. But Australia have only ever lost once in the shortest format in Brisbane across eight matches that stretches back to 2006. That loss came against the West Indies in 2013.

And Australia will want that record to stay put. For one more night at least as they look to level the five-match series after India took an unassailable lead on Thursday night on the Gold Coast.

It's been a strange old series so far, which started off with a washout in Canberra followed by a thumping win for the Aussies in front of a packed MCG. India have since clawed back with two very professional displays in two convincing victories to further enhance their reputation as being the No 1 T20I team in the world.

That win also ensured that Australia's run without a series win in the shortest format against India on home soil will continue on for a few more years. India have a grand opportunity to further their hold on the titles of being favourites to defend their crown in a few months' time on home soil. And to have done it with a team which is still not quite full-strength would be another feather in the cap for Suryakumar Yadav's team.

When: Australia v India, 5th T20I, November 8, 2025, 18:15 hrs Local Time, 19:15 hrs AEDT, 13:45 hrs IST

Where: The Gabba, Brisbane

What to expect: It was once again a beautiful summer's day in Queensland on the eve of the final T20I. Though there are forecasts for storms later in the day, as is par for the course in this part of the world at this time of the year, the locals are confident that it'll stay away for us to get an uninterrupted contest. India started their white-ball campaign on a very bouncy Perth pitch a few weeks ago, and they will finish on a surface which should have the trademark Gabba bounce and carry but should mean more smooth strokeplay as compared to the two-paced track on the Gold Coast, where boundary hitting got progressively more difficult as the innings got deeper.

Team News

Australia

Josh Philippe has got some unexpected opportunities to show his wares on this Indian tour so far, and he had a golden chance to really impress at Carrara, if only he'd managed to steer Australia closer to their target. It wasn't to be and there's every chance Mitch Owen might come back into the side and keep his spot in the middle-order with Matt Short having shown signs of breaking free at the top. Mahli Beardman still has an outside chance of making a debut but it'll be interesting to see who he could come in for.

Probable XI:Mitch Marsh (c), Matt Short, Josh Inglis (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Tim David, Marcus Stoinis, Mitch Owen/Josh Philippe, Nathan Ellis, Xavier Bartlett, Adam Zampa, Mahli Beardman/Ben Dwarshius

India

Despite missing Hardik Pandya, and having sent Kuldeep Yadav back home early, India have found a settled unit after the Melbourne defeat, and will stick with it for the big finale as they try to wrap up this series. Their three spinners have blended perfectly with Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh while Shivam Dube has provided vital breakthroughs with his change of pace varietals.

Probable XI: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Shivam Dube, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah