After claiming the Take a look at sequence towards Australia for the fourth successive time, the Males in Blue will tackle the Aussies within the first of three ODIs on the iconic Wankhede Stadium on Friday, March 17. With common skipper Rohit Sharma unavailable for the sequence Opener, Hardik Pandya might be main the aspect towards the vacationers.
Though the house aspect accomplished a memorable clear sweep towards the Kiwis in an ODI sequence earlier this yr, they are going to be cautious of Steve Smith’s visiting Australian aspect. A number of Indian gamers might be wanting to impress within the upcoming sequence with the 50-over World Cup scheduled to be hosted within the subcontinent later this yr.
Here is India’s predicted XI within the 1st ODI towards Australia:
Openers – Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan (wk)
India’s dashing opener Shubman Gill has been within the type of his life because the flip of the yr and reminded folks of his exploits with a superb ton towards Australia in Ahmedabad in his final outing. He has registered three centuries in his final 4 ODI appearances for India in 2023 and might be hoping to proceed his distinctive run with the bat in Mumbai.
Whereas Gill has been reveling on the prime of the order, Ishan Kishan has didn’t impress in his latest outings for the nationwide group. His record-breaking 210 towards Bangladesh in December 2022 looks as if a distant reminiscence proper now because the southpaw is struggling for runs in white-ball cricket.
Center Order – Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav
The previous Indian skipper lastly introduced an finish to his century drought within the longest format of the sport after punishing the Aussies on a batting-friendly floor in Ahmedabad. He should anchor the Indian innings within the absence of skipper Rohit Sharma, one thing he’s properly adept at doing in ODIs.
An unlucky damage to Shreyas Iyer has reopened the doorways for Suryakumar Yadav within the ODI group. The no.1 T20I batsman on the planet has failed to duplicate his type within the longer codecs of the sport and he might be hoping to reinforce his status within the 50-over format within the upcoming sequence towards the Aussies.
All-rounders: Hardik Pandya (c), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur
Flamboyant Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya might be main the aspect within the ODI sequence opener towards Australia within the absence of standard skipper Rohit Sharma. Whereas his private type has dipped a bit within the final couple of sequence, his captaincy expertise have come to the fore for the Males in Blue in essential matches.
The upcoming sequence towards Australia might be Ravindra Jadeja’s first white-ball project since his return from a long-term damage. The left-arm spinner, who shared the participant of the sequence award with Ravichandran Ashwin after the conclusion of the Take a look at sequence, might be trying to replicate the identical type within the 50-over format.
Washington Sundar is one other cricketer in a protracted listing of spin-bowling all-rounders for India within the shorter codecs of the sport. The 23-year-old off-spinner from Tamil Nadu was spectacular in India’s white-ball project towards New Zealand earlier this yr and might be trying to stake a declare for a spot within the squad for the 50-over World Cup later this yr. .
He won’t be essentially the most glamorous cricketer on the market, however Shardul Thakur finds a solution to affect video games most of the time for India. The bowling all-rounder was one of many protagonists for the Males in Blue of their thrilling ODI sequence victory towards the Kiwis, because it was his clutch efficiency within the ODI sequence opener that laid the inspiration for a clear sweep of the Blackcaps.
Bowlers – Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj
Kuldeep Yadav is one other Indian cricketer who has discovered a brand new lease of life ever since returning to the nationwide setup after final yr’s IPL. The left-arm spinner has scalped 11 wickets in his final 5 appearances in ODIs and was considered one of India’s higher performers with the ball towards the Kiwis in January.
Veteran Indians Pacer Mohammed Shami is displaying no indicators of slowing down because the 32-year-old was at his typical finest within the lately concluded Take a look at sequence towards Australia. He has the duty of main the traces for the Males in Blue within the upcoming sequence and can play a vital position with the brand new ball.
The lately topped no.1 ODI bowler on the planet, Mohammed Siraj is India’s trump card within the 50-over format. Whereas his tenacity with the brand new ball at all times troubles the opposition batters, he has additionally improved his demise bowling considerably handy India a deadly possibility within the latter phases of matches.
Possible group India taking part in XI- India: Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan (wk), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya (c), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj
