Melbourne

Australia has been compelled to make three changes for a short T20 tour of India as selectors adapt to a cautious stance ahead of the T20 World Cup next month.

Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Marsh and Marcus Stoinis have all been ruled out of the tour due to injuries.

Nathan Ellis, Daniel Sams, and Sean Abbott have been added to the squad in their place. David Warner was already unavailable since he was provided with a break.

The three injuries are mild, but Australia has taken a prudent stance ahead of the T20 World Cup, which gets underway on October 22.

The India tour involves travelling to three different locations for three games.

Marsh and Stoinis suffered injuries during Australia's ODI series in north Queensland against Zimbabwe and New Zealand.

Starc was forced to withdraw from the tour after a scan on his knee was conducted on Wednesday.

Warner, Marsh, Starc, and Stoinis are all anticipated to be available for Australia's home T20 series against the West Indies and England leading up to the World Cup.

To prepare for a few days of acclimatisation and training leading up to the opening match on Tuesday in Mohali, the modified Australia team will take off for India early on Thursday.

On September 23, they play again in Nagpur, followed by the final game in Hyderabad two days later.

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After that, Australia will return home to host the West Indies in Queensland on October 5 and 7.