T20 home series loss means little: Aussies

Australia allrounders Shane Watson and James Faulkner say there is no point looking back at a 3-0 Twenty20 series loss to India earlier this year.

Shane Watson and James Faulkner believe there are few parallels to draw with Australia's recent Twenty20 failures against India and the upcoming clash at Mohali.

Watson and Faulkner both featured in the side's 3-0 T20 series loss to India at home in January.

Selectors essentially used it as a selection trial, naming a 17-man squad for those contests then overlooking most of its members in the 15-man World Twenty20 squad.

The results extended a miserable head-to-head record in the format, with Australia having won four of 12 meetings.

But Australia's XI in the must-win World Twenty20 clash will be significantly different to the teams that were trounced by MS Dhoni's men at the start of the year.

"We went through quite a few players throughout those three games so now we've been a bit more settled," Watson said.

"Compared to India who have been just about the same team all the way through so they certainly know their roles very well within the batting unit and the bowling unit."

India superstar Virat Kohli described the series as the "catalyst of our consistent performances in this Twenty20 season so far".

"We can focus on the positive things we did there against Australia ... why we were able to beat them in Australia is very important," Kohli said.

Faulkner suggested there was no point looking that far back.

"Different country, different conditions, different tournament," he said.

"We play really good cricket against each other. They're obviously a really good team and we'd like to think we're a really good team as well."

The form of both sides at the World T20 is a more relevant indicator.

Australia were far from their best against New Zealand and Bangladesh but recorded a clinical 21-run win over Pakistan on Friday.

India's form is remarkably similar.

The tournament hosts struggled against New Zealand and Bangladesh, only getting over the line after taking three wickets in the final three balls, but impressed against Pakistan.

"We know we are going to have to be at our absolute best against India. They are an incredible team," Watson said.

"They haven't clicked so far in this tournament ... (but) with all their world class players when they click they're nearly unbeatable.

"Especially in Indian conditions as well, it's going to be a huge challenge."

Pakistan coach Waqar Younis was unwilling to predict a winner.

"They're both very fine sides," Younis said.

"They've been playing very hard, tough cricket against each other."


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Source: AAP



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