17 March,2023 04:43 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Team India (Pic Courtesy: PTI)
Ace all-rounder Hardik Pandya's captaincy skills will be put to test when India begins their three-match ODI series against familiar foes Australia on Friday. Pandya's brute power will meet its match in Steve Smith's languid elegance when India squares off against Australia in the first ODI at Wankhede.
This will be the first time that Pandya will lead the national side in an ODI, though he is the regular skipper in T20Is. He is also the designated vice-captain for the ODI series.
The focus will most certainly shift from winning the Test series and qualifying for the World Test Championships final against the same team to beginning preparations for the ODI World Cup later this year where India play the hosts.
The Men in Blue will look to maintain their winning streak as they have had in ODIs at home this year, winning all six matches in total, against Sri Lanka and New Zealand in two separate series.
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India vs Australia, 1st ODI
Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Date & Time: March 17, 1:30 PM IST
Also Read: IND vs AUS: India, Hardik Pandya Ready to rock!
A match at Wankhede most definitely means that a high-scoring game is right on the cards. The average first-innings total in the last three matches played at this venue is 324. 75 percent of the wickets, meaning there will be a glimmer of hope with the new ball. As it stands out, both teams will look to chase upon winning the toss, as the pitch is not likely to undergo much change during the game.
Wicketkeeper: KL Rahul
Batsman: David Warner
All-rounder: Hardik Pandya
Bowler: Mitchell Starc
India: Ishan Kishan, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya (C), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami
Australia: Travis Head, Steve Smith (c), Mitchell Marsh, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Josh Inglis (wk), Cameron Green, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Sean Abbott
Also Read: IND vs AUS: Mitch Marsh stresses on win-this-series mindset
