Why is Tilak Varma not playing the final India vs Australia T20I?
With a 2-1 lead in the five-match T20I series Down Under, Suryakumar Yadav and his men have arrived at the iconic Gabba to seal the series against the hosts. The fifth and final India vs Australia T20I began with Mitchell Marsh winning yet another toss and opting to bowl first. The Kangaroos, who brought back the likes of Glenn Maxwell and Adam Zampa ahead of the fourth T20I, have kept their Playing XI unchanged. However, the India Playing XI fearured one change, as Rinku Singh earned the much-awaited opportunity to join the first attack, with Tilak Varma making way for the finisher to enter the lineup.
Tilak Varma rested, Rinku Singh joins the India Playing XI for the final India vs Australia T20I
Across the India Tour of Australia, which featured three ODIs and five T20Is, the Men in Blue have managed to win all but one toss. However, the coin once again flipped in favor of the hosts as the action moved to the final India vs Australia showdown. Staying true to his trend, Mitchell Marsh opted to bowl first in Brisbane against Suryakumar Yadav and his men. Playing the final T20I, India have the chance to seal the series 3-1, while the home team will be looking to force a 2-2 draw.
Meanwhile, as the visitors aim to seal the India vs Australia T20I series after losing the ODI contest, the India Playing XI features one change. Tilak Varma has been rested for the final T20I clash at the Gabba, joining Sanju Samson on the bench. With Varma’s spot opening up, the management has finally handed Rinku Singh an opportunity in the lineup.
The young middle-order batter has struggled to perform up to his standard in the India vs Australia series. The T20I series opener was washed out in Canberra, with Tilak Varma not getting a chance to bat. Meanwhile, in the three matches that followed, he recorded scores of 0, 29, and 5. With the runs drying up, the Indian management, led by head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav, opted to give Rinku Singh an opportunity in the Playing XI, resting Tilak Varma.
"Until you're winning the game and losing the toss, it's fine. Want to go out and express ourselves. Always good to understand what the team's goal is. All batters realised it wasn't a 200 wicket. All boxes ticked in the last game, just want to continue the same. Always good to win bilaterals. At the same time, what combination you want is more important. Other than openers, this is one format where everyone has to be flexible with batting positions. One change - Tilak is resting, Rinku comes in," Suryakumar Yadav said at the toss.
India Playing XI for the final India vs Australia T20I
Presenting #TeamIndia's Playing XI for the 5⃣th and final T20I 👌
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 8, 2025
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/V6p4wdCkz1#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/TA0XjD5Rxf
Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma(w), Washington Sundar, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah
Australia Playing XI
Mitchell Marsh(c), Matthew Short, Josh Inglis(w), Tim David, Josh Philippe, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshuis, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa
