India's ODI series against Australia starts on Sunday (October 19). Here's what India's playing XI could look like.
The series will mark the return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to international cricket for the first time since India's Champions Trophy triumph in February. In between, both of them announced their retirements from Test cricket. The first match of the series will also be the first international game since 2016 which would feature both Rohit and Kohli with neither of them leading.
Also read: Rohit, Kohli, and the ODI transition India can't afford to get wrong
Sandwiched between two home Test series against the West Indies and South Africa, India have picked a first-choice, full-strength batting line-up for the ODIs, which will also mark Shubman Gill's first stint as captain in the format. However, some key all-rounders and bowlers have been rested.
India's ODI squad: Shubman Gill (c), Shreyas Iyer (vc), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel, Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna.
The three matches will be played at Perth (October 19), Adelaide (October 23), and Sydney (October 25). Based on venues and conditions, here's what India's playing XI could look like:
India's predicted XI for Australia ODIs
Top five
Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (c), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vc), KL Rahul (wk)
Rohit and Gill have forged a highly successful one-day opening partnership over the last three years. Their partnership average of 68.51 is the highest for any opening pair in the format to have added more than 2,000 runs together.
Continuing with the combination that featured in the last two 50-over ICC tournaments for India, Kohli, Iyer, and Rahul should slot in at three, four and five. Iyer has been promoted to vice-captain, which will place added responsibility on his shoulders, while Rahul will don the big gloves and potentially move around the batting order if required.
All-rounders
Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel
This is where the major personnel changes begin compared to India's Champions Trophy squad. Hardik Pandya has been rested after the Asia Cup, and Ravindra Jadeja has not been picked. Reddy, who has played nine Tests and four T20Is, is set to make his debut as a like-for-like replacement for Pandya as India continue their programme of grooming the young all-rounder.
Jadeja, meanwhile, has been replaced by Sundar. The off-spinning all-rounder will add variety to the spin attack and his batting has been on a steady upward curve, as witnessed in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy recently. He and Axar will provide balance to the Indian XI, and can be used as floaters anywhere in the batting order, especially if the game situation demands the presence of a left-hander in the middle.
Both Sundar and Axar can also bowl in the powerplay.
Bowlers
Harshit Rana/Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj
In the UAE, India had adopted a spin-heavy strategy, going in with four specialist spinners in the playing XI. Conditions in Australia will be different, which is reflected in the makeup of their squad. Like Jadeja, Varun Chakravarthy has not found a place in the 15.
India's preference for batting depth means they are unlikely to move away from playing all three all-rounders in NKR, Sundar, and Axar. This could make it difficult for Kuldeep to find a place in the starting XI, particularly for the first ODI, which is in Perth, where three spinners might be surplus to requirement.
Rana could play as the third specialist quick alongside Arshdeep and Siraj in Perth, and India might revert back to playing Kuldeep in place of Rana at Adelaide and Sydney.
India's predicted ODI XI vs Australia
Rohit Sharma
Shubman Gill (c)
Virat Kohli
Shreyas Iyer (vc)
KL Rahul (wk)
Nitish Kumar Reddy
Axar Patel
Washington Sundar
Harshit Rana/Kuldeep Yadav
Arshdeep Singh
Mohammed Siraj
