With the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) finalizing a contract renewal for head coach Rahul Dravid after the ICC World Cup 2023, National Cricket Academy (NCA) chief and batting legend VVS Laxman coached the full five-match T20I series against Australia. A second-string India team defeated Australia 4-1 in the bilateral series, led by new skipper Suryakumar Yadav.

India lacked leader Rohit Sharma, ex-captain Virat Kohli, all-rounder Hardik Pandya, KL Rahul, and Jasprit Bumrah. Shreyas Iyer, who had been rested for the first three T20Is, has joined the Indian side as Suryakumar's replacement for the final two matches against Australia. Iyer, a middle-order batsman, had appeared in all 11 games in India's World Cup campaign at home.

While Iyer was named the No. 3 hitter for the fourth and fifth T20Is, India decided to drop Ishan Kishan from the playing XI after the third game of the five-game series. Reflecting on India's performance under Laxman's watchful eye, former India cricketer Ajay Jadeja questioned Kishan's omission from the T20I series. Kishan did not appear in Team India's World Cup campaign.

Following the World Cup, there was a series. Ishan Kishan played three matches before returning home. Was he truly exhausted after three matches and in need of rest? He didn't even play in many games during the World Cup. He earned his place in the starting lineup for the first few World Cup games.
He earned his place in the starting lineup for the first few World Cup games. On a good day, how many Indian players have scored a double century? On his day, he has the ability to change the game. When is he going to get ready? Will you keep him on trial at all times? How many games has he played in the last two years? This is not a new problem in Indian cricket; we don't choose (players) but reject them," Jadeja said.

Kishan got a five-ball duck against Australia in the third T20I at Guwahati while keeping the wickets for India. However, the Indian southpaw got the series began with a brilliant 58 off 39 balls at Visakhapatnam. He followed it up with a stunning 52-ball knock in the second T20I in Thiruvananthapuram. The Indian gloveman scored 110 runs in three innings against Australia, averaging 36.67. "Ishan Kishan did not even play the entire five-match Twenty20 International series against Australia." After three matches, he was sent home to rest. So, if this continues, how will you assure that he is adequately prepared?" Jadeja added.