The highly anticipated ICC World Cup is on the horizon. The cricketing world’s gaze is fixed upon the thrilling encounter set to take place on October 8th in Chennai, where two formidable teams, Australia and India, will commence their campaigns.
Nevertheless, before this momentous clash, there existed three preparatory encounters within the span of a mere six days. The ODI series between Australia and India is all set to start on Friday, September 22. The Inderjit Singh Bindra Stadium in Mohali will host the 1st IND vs AUS ODI.
While these matches serve as a valuable platform for fine-tuning strategies and allowing key Australian players to regain their form, they also bear the weighty responsibility of guarding against last-minute injury setbacks.
Australia finds themselves grappling with a significant blow, as Travis Head’s fractured hand casts a shadow over his World Cup prospects. The injury is expected to sideline him, potentially reshaping Australia’s squad dynamics.
In contrast, India faces concerns regarding the availability of Axar Patel, who is slated to miss the first two matches of this series due to ongoing fitness considerations.
Looking at its recent form, India holds a distinctive edge, having clinched the Asia Cup with a memorable victory over Sri Lanka.
In contrast, Australia’s recent outings saw them relinquish a 2-0 series lead to South Africa, eventually succumbing to a 3-2 defeat. So, these three preparatory matches carry substantial weight for the Australian team, as they seek to regain their footing, rekindle player form, and rebuild their confidence.
The lead-up to the World Cup has not been without its challenges for Australia, as they have yet to field what might be considered their first-choice XI due to various factors, including injuries.
This series presents a golden opportunity for young players like Shreyas Iyer and Suryakumar Yadav to spend valuable time in the middle.
As the countdown to the World Cup intensifies, these preparatory matches carry a wealth of significance, serving as a litmus test for both teams as they endeavour to fine-tune their strategies, resolve squad dilemmas, and attain the peak of their prowess before the grand cricketing spectacle unfolds.
IND vs AUS: Probable Probable XI
India Squad: Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (c, wk), Tilak Varma/Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
Australia Squad: David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Marcus Stoinis, Sean Abbott, Pat Cummins (c), Josh Hazlewood, Adam Zampa
IND vs AUS Complete Squads
Australia Squad: David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Josh Inglis, Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey(w), Marcus Stoinis, Cameron Green, Pat Cummins(c), Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Ellis, Sean Abbott, Matthew Short, Spencer Johnson, Tanveer Sangha
India Squad: Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul(w/c), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Shardul Thakur, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar
Also Read: Asian Games 2022: 3 Reasons Why Indian Women’s Team Might Win The Competition
