India play three T20Is against Australia from September 20, with a number of selection headaches ahead of the series for them to answer.

Should a struggling KL Rahul be persisted with? Is there a place for both Rishabh Pant and Dinesh Karthik in the side? Who are the spinners, and can India manage to have a balanced XI with an extra bowling option as well have batting depth?

Wisden India’s writers pick the best XI for the series against the T20 World Cup defending champions.

India’s squad for Australia T20Is: Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), Hardik Pandya, R. Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohd. Shami, Harshal Patel, Deepak Chahar, Jasprit Bumrah.

Abhishek Mukherjee, Wisden India head of content

Rohit Sharma (c), Rishabh Pant, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Axar Patel, Harshal Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal

If India are to change their top three, the six T20Is – three against each of Australia and South Africa – are all they have. This may be the last chance to push Pant up the order to give him time before he switches to fifth gear. With Kohli just returning to form and Rohit a certainty, the axe may fall on Rahul.

Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar, and Harshal are likely to be India’s default pace attack at the T20 World Cup, but what about the spinners? Chahal is the likeliest of the three to play, while India may keep switching between Axar and Ashwin. Axar’s superior hitting abilities are likelier to provide him with an edge until the opposition is stacked with left-handers.

Aadya Sharma, Wisden India editor

Rohit Sharma (c), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik, Harshal Patel, R Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal

Kohli’s apparent return to form and Rahul’s prolonged rustiness have compelled me to pair India’s two white-ball giants at the top. At one down is Suryakumar, probably a spot higher than he usually bats, with Rishabh Pant – the only top-six left-hander around – to follow. Hooda’s form has tailed off a bit, tempting me to go with Pandya and Karthik for the finishing touches.

Further down, Ashwin and Chahal are my two spinners (usually a necessity on Indian pitches), with comeback men Bumrah and Harshal combining with Bhuvneshwar in the absence of Arshdeep. With the World Cup barely a month away, it is a good time to play the core group as much together as possible.

Sarah Waris, Wisden India staff writer

Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Axar Patel, Harshal Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal

I have selected Rahul despite his recent problems with strike rates – largely because India need him to fire. Without Rahul in the XI, the batting lower down the order looks weak, with Pant – not the greatest T20I batter – not inspiring enough confidence. Rahul is experienced, and can be dangerous on his day. He is also returning from a long layoff due to injury, and he needs time to find his groove.

The other debate was between Axar and Ashwin, and I have gone in with the former because of his batting; Chahal will be the second spinner. This will be my combination for the T20 World Cup as well, with Ashwin only coming in when match-ups suit him. The fast-bowling attack is settled, with the three quicks in the T20 World Cup squad getting in.

Shubham Pandey, Wisden India social media manager

Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah

KL Rahul will open the innings for me along with Rohit. Rahul hasn’t been at his best over the past year in T20Is, but the management has continued to back him, and I hope he can live up to their trust.  There are not many changes you can make in the playing XI except Dinesh Karthik replacing Rishabh Pant and Axar Patel coming in for Ravichandran Ashwin. Bumrah and Harshal are finally injury-free and ready to be part of my playing XI.

Shashwat Kumar, Wisden India staff writer

Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Deepak Chahar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal

I know what all of you are thinking. Why Pant and not Dinesh Karthik? Where does Harshal Patel figure in all this? Why is KL Rahul getting a long rope?

Rahul, under the previous regime, was shunted up and down and sometimes, out of the side too. He has not set the world alight but there were glimpses at the Asia Cup of him returning to his belligerent best. Pant, too, is a genuine match-winner. He has not yet cracked the T20I code but sometimes, a vote of confidence is all that is required.

Chahar, on the other hand, can provide the batting muscle India have been craving in the lower order and needs to be tested out before the T20 World Cup. Bhuvneshwar is not an out-and-out death-bowler like Harshal but adds more dimensions to the attack, especially with Bumrah, capable of bowling at the death, back in the fold.