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The World Cup is almost right here, however not fairly. These two groups will meet to open their campaigns on October 8 in Chennai, however first there are three video games in six days that, whereas helpful for fine-tuning plans, and for a variety of key Australia gamers returning to motion, can even present a problem in guaranteeing towards any additional last-minute harm alarms.
Australia have suffered an enormous one in latest days with Travis Head’s fractured hand prone to rule him out of the World Cup. India, in the meantime, have some issues over Axar Patel who just isn’t out there for the primary two matches of this collection.
India are coming off their Asia Cup success the place they skittled Sri Lanka for 50 within the remaining and Australia arrive having seen a 2-0 collection lead overturned by South Africa right into a 3-2 defeat. When it comes to performances, type of gamers and confidence, there’s in all probability extra driving on these three video games for them quite than India.
This can even be a possibility for Shreyas Iyer and Suryakumar Yadav to have a while within the center. Iyer suffered a again spasm through the Asia Cup whereas Suryakumar performed simply as soon as, making 26 off 34 balls within the defeat towards Bangladesh.
Kind information
India WLWWW (final 5 matches, most up-to-date first)
Australia LLLWW
Within the highlight: Ashwin’s probability and Cummins’ return
R Ashwin has not performed an ODI since January 2022 and when a substitute was wanted a number of days in the past for the Asia Cup remaining it was Washington who made the sprint over. Nonetheless, ought to Axar not make the World Cup squad, Ashwin’s expertise might but tilt the scales his means. He and Ravindra Jadeja have definitely given Australia some sleepless nights in Take a look at cricket.
Pat Cummins was appointed Australia’s ODI captain final November, however has to this point captained them in simply two matches. He’s coming into this collection off the again of a wrist harm sustained within the remaining Ashes Take a look at and can strengthen a tempo assault that was put below stress in South Africa. Nevertheless, there’s additionally an fascinating choice debate that would happen round Cummins if – or when – Australia solely wish to subject two frontline quicks.
Staff information: Ashwin vs Washington and Smith’s return
All three spin-bowling allrounders might play within the absence of the rested Pandya. The selectors can also think about giving Mohammed Siraj a recreation off after his Asia Cup heroics. Ishan Kishan may have the prospect to open alongside the in-form Shubman Gill.
India (potential): 1 Ishan Kishan, 2 Shubman Gill, 3 Shreyas Iyer, 4 Suryakumar Yadav, 5 KL Rahul (capt, wk), 6 Ravindra Jadeja, 7 Washington Sundar, 8 R Ashwin, 9 Mohammed Shami, 10 Mohammed Siraj/Shardul Thakur, 11 Jasprit Bumrah.
This recreation might give the primary indication of how Australia plan to suit collectively Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, though they could look to squeeze in Quick. With out Head, Maxwell or Ashton Agar, Tanveer Sangha might come into the combo. Starc is not out there for this recreation, which might open the door for Spencer Johnson to make his ODI debut after he picked up a hamstring harm in South Africa. Sean Abbott and Nathan Ellis each left Johannesburg with accidents.
Australia (potential): 1 David Warner, 2 Mitchell Marsh, 3 Steven Smith, 4 Marnus Labuschagne, 5 Alex Carey (wk), 6 Cameron Inexperienced, 7 Marcus Stoinis, 8 Pat Cummins (capt), 9 Spencer Johnson/Tanveer Sangha, 10 Adam Zampa, 11 Josh Hazlewood.
Pitch and circumstances
It is early within the Indian season, however Cummins stated he did not count on that to have an effect on the surfaces a lot. Mohali hasn’t staged an ODI for 4 years, however has produced some excessive scores within the IPL. The forecast is for a scorching, dry day.
Stats and trivia
- The final ODI performed in Mohali featured these two groups again in 2019 when Australia chased down a file 359 due to Peter Handscomb, Usman Khawaja and Ashton Turner.
- Steven Smith wants 61 runs to achieve 5000 in ODIs.
- The final time India confronted Australia in ODIs, Suryakumar Yadav bagged three consecutive golden geese.
Quotes
“We’ll try to strike the stability between getting loads of recreation time into everybody but additionally [have] an eye fixed to the World Cup in a few weeks.”
Pat Cummins
Andrew McGlashan is a deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo
