Skipper Rohit Sharma is unavailable for the primary ODI on the Wankhede Stadium because of circle of relatives commitments and Pandya will captain the Indian workforce within the sequence opener.
The day-night tournament will likely be Pandya’s first as captain in an ODI, regardless that he’s the common India skipper within the T20 layout. He could also be the designated vice-captain for the ODI sequence.
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Collectively as a workforce, the point of interest will shift from successful the four-match Test sequence for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and qualifying for the World Test Championships ultimate in June towards the similar warring parties — Australia — to beginning arrangements for the 50-over The nation is webhosting the World Cup later this yr.
Keeping in thoughts that India had received the identify the final time the rustic hosted the event — with MS Dhoni’s workforce successful the trophy in 2011 — an identical expectancies will likely be from Sharma and corporate.
The expectancies will likely be specifically prime since the Indian workforce is a special beast in any layout whilst taking part in at house. Furthermore, the undesirable file of no longer doing neatly sufficient within the knockout suits of the ICC hounding this staff of gamers, the workforce will likely be determined to show issues round.
India can even glance to profit from the implausible begins they’ve had in ODIs at house this yr, successful all six suits in overall — towards Sri Lanka and New Zealand in two separate sequence.
With 567 runs and 3 centuries in simply six ODIs, and averaging 113.40, Shubman Gill Has made a cracking begin to the World Cup yr and Sharma’s absence within the first tournament will put extra limelight at the right-handed batsman, who’s coming off a high quality Test century towards Australia within the fourth and ultimate tournament in Ahmedabad.
Batting maestro Virat Kohli had left the tilt patch in white-ball cricket a long way at the back of, and his 338 runs in six suits at 67.60 point out that the run-machine may also be anticipated so as to add extra to the 75 centuries that he has amassed in global cricket up to now.
Kohli’s combat with Australia leg-spinner Adam Zampa is likely one of the match-ups to be careful for, with the bowler having had really extensive luck towards the superstar India batsman.
Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal bowled in tandem within the nets all through an not obligatory coaching consultation on Wednesday right here, and the 2 leg-spinners can shape a very important weapon in India’s assault given their knack of taking wickets and previous file of dominance in white-ball cricket .
With 11 wickets in 5 suits, Kuldeep has up to now been India’s highest spinner, whilst amongst rapid bowlers, Mohammed Siraj is a long way forward with 14 scalps in as many outings.
The Indians will likely be cautious of the truth that the five-time World Cup winners Australia have sufficient firepower of their ranks to drag off wins, regardless of the absence of normal captain Pat Cummins who has made up our minds to be along with his circle of relatives after the passing of his mom. .
Cummins’ absence will likely be felt by means of the visiting workforce because it additionally seems to be to finalize its arrangements for the World Cup in October-November this yr.
Like he did within the final two suits of the Test sequence, the wily Steve Smith will lead Australia within the ODI sequence as neatly.
While Cummins and Josh Hazlewood don’t seem to be to be had for this ODI sequence, veteran batsman David Warner and all-rounder Ashton Agar, who each had returned house all through the Test sequence, are again in India with the nationwide squad.
Australia additionally have not performed any ODI cricket in three-and-a-half months of this yr, with their center of attention being skilled totally at the WTC ultimate berth.
With that function accomplished, the visiting facet will need to manner those 3 ODIs with the most productive conceivable alternative to organize for demanding situations forward below Smith.
Australia can even draw inspiration from the truth that the final time they performed right here, they’d passed India a 10-wicket defeat with Warner and Aaron Finch — now retired — hitting unbeaten centuries.
Teams (from):
India: Hardik Pandya (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohd Shami, Mohd Siraj, Umran Malik, Shardul ThakurAxar Patel, Jaydev Unadkat
Australia: Steven Smith (captain), David Warner, Travis HeadMarnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Sean AbbottAshton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa
(With PTI inputs)