India vs Australia HIGHLIGHTS 1st ODI: Rahul, Jadeja partnership lead IND to five-wicket win; Shami, Siraj shine with ball

Rahul: Saw three wickets fall down early, Starc was swinging the ball well and when he brings the ball back in, he is a dangerous bowler. Just tried to play normal cricketing shots. Got a few boundaries away and that settled my nerves. I batted with Shubman, Hardik, and Jadeja. The talk was that there’s help on the wicket but we did not want to get into our shells and play out a certain bowler. We wanted to be positive and put the loose balls away. If we were good without footwork, we could do well and it was fun batting with Jadeja. The minute the left-hander walked in, I got a few loose balls. The left-hander walked in and that worked for us. He played beautifully and he runs hard between the wickets. It was really good batting with him. When we started off, I didn’t think it will help the bowlers so much, there would be a spongy bounce. Once Shami came in for his second spell, he bowled well and picked up wickets. The bowlers did well in the middle overs. When there’s bounce, I like keeping wickets. It is a bit of a challenge when it is slow and low, it is challenging physically. The ball was moving around and I enjoy playing here at the Wankhede.

100-run partnership between KL and Jadeja come up off just 127 balls. Starc tails the ball in and Jadeja flicks the ball through square-leg for FOUR, sheer nonchalance! Jadeja finishes it in style. He smites Starc through deep mid-wicket for FOUR and India beats Australia by five wickets.

Short from Abbott and Jadeja dabs the ball down to deep cover for a single. Sensible batting from Rahul and Jadeja as they pierce the gaps for runs.

Starc returns. A couple of solid drives from both batters find a couple of singles. Dealing in singles. Three from the over.

Abbott offers room and Rahul slaps the ball down to deep point for a single. Abbott slides the ball down leg and concedes a wide. Back-of=a-length delivery and Jadeja slams the ball through point for two runs.

Zampa continues. Zampa tosses one outside the off-stump and Rahul leans in and slices the ball past short third for FOUR. A single to follow. Zampa slides one down leg and that’s three wides as Starc puts in a dive at fine leg. In the slot and Rahul pumps the ball over long-on for SIX. Short from Zampa and Rahul pushes the ball through cover for a single.

Green’s first delivery hurries onto Jadeja. He gets an inside edge but is able to get a single. FIFTY for Rahul. A brilliant knock under pressure. Jadeja collects a quick single with a tap to point region. Rahul ends the over with a slap to the point fence for FOUR.

Zampa reintroduced. Jadeja punches to deep cover region for a single. Rahul with a nudge to short third for one run. The third single of the over from Jadeja. Two more from the over. India five runs closer to the target.

A couple and a single off the first deliveries of Green’s over. WIDE to follow. Australia just starting to leak a few runs. A single off the last delivery.

After three singles, Jadeja finds the fence with a cut shot hit on the rise. FOUR. An appeal on the last delivery but the ball was easily going down leg. Fifty partnership between Rahul and Jadeja.

Green starts with a WIDE! Almost gets Rahul’s edge. Pitches outside off and holds its line. This time he gets the edge. Forced Rahul to drive and the ball flies past Steve Smith at first slip. A run taken before Starc fields the ball. The next delivery jags back in to Jadeja. A tidy over from Green which almost got a breakthrough for Australia.

A swing and a miss from Jadeja on Stoinis’ delivery that angles away from him. The southpaw then hits the ball to mid wicket to pick two runs. WIDE! Inglis with a dive to prevent more runs there.

Maxwell starts with a wide. Rahul taps the next to long on for a single. Jadeja with a push to deep cover for another single. Another two runs from the over.

Starc continues. The first ball hits Rahul. He grimaces in pain but is good to go on. Two dots to follow. A text book straight drive from Rahul for FOUR runs. Starc follows with a wide. Leaves the fifth delivery undisturbed. A quick single to mid off to end the over.

Maxwell with the ball. The first delivery is wide and Jadeja leaves it. A single off the next. Just one single for Rahul from the over. Maxwell with a good start to his spell.

Starc has been recalled to break this partnership. Starts with a yorker to Rahul who opens the face of his blade and guides it to third for a single. Starc maintains a line outside the off-stump and Jadeja leaves two deliveries on length. A poke on the fourth ball lands just short of the point fielder. FOUR - A flick off the pads by Jadeja. An outside edge to third man for a single.

Jadeja with a FOUR! Zampa errs in line and gifts a ball on the leg. Jadeja sends it on its way to fine leg. Two singles off the next two balls bring up India’s 100.

Labuschagne with a vital stop at point. Rahul cut hard and the ball was racing to the fence. A tap to mid wicket for a quick single. Jadeja with a leg bye.

Zampa with his third over. Jadeja collects a single off the first delivery. Another one for Rahul to long off. Jadeja guides the ball to fine leg to complete a run. A tap to cover by Rahul for the fourth run of the over.

Just one run off Abbott’s over.

Jadeja off the mark with a nudge to deep square. Four singles off the four deliveries. Two dots to end the over.

OUT! Stoinis strikes. Pandya pulls a bouncer only to find Cameron Green at deep square-leg. Jadeja for India at No. 7. A wicket maiden from Stoinis.

Zampa called up to bowl by the captain. Accurate line and length from the leg spinner allows no run to India off the first two balls. Rahul steps out and clips the ball to deep mid-wicket for one run. The fourth ball keeps straight and gets a big inside edge. The ball goes through the pads and Pandya runs a single. Just two came from it.

Stoinis starts with three dot balls. NO BALL. India gets a free hit with Pandya on strike. Just a single off the slower delivery. Rahul gets an edge on the final delivery but there is no second slip in place. A single to third man.

Rahul mistimes his pull- off Green but is able to collect a single. SIX! Pandya uses the width and slashes hard at the ball. The top edge flies over the third man fielder. Stoinis stops a certain boundary at covers. Pandya takes a single though.

A leg-bye on the first delivery in Stoinis’ over. A sloppy misfield from Maxwell at mid on allows a FOUR for Rahul. Clipped away for a single off the third delivery. Pandya blocks the last three deliveries of the over.

Green resumes after the drinks break. Rahul guides the ball to the fine leg region for a single. FOUR! Pandya punches on the backfoot. A single off to third-man on the last delivery.

Abbott fends too straight and Hardik unleashes a supreme wristy flick for FOUR. He’s looked in good nick so far and India heads to Drinks.

A deft late-cut from Rahul through third finds him FOUR runs and that’s 50 up for India. Seven runs from Green’s first over.

Abbott builds the pressure on Rahul with five tight deliveries on the stump. A slight err on line and Rahul tucks it to square-leg for two runs.

Starc to Gill, OUT! A sensational catch at point to see the back of Gill. Full, outside the off-stump and Gill chips the ball to Labuschagne at point. Hardik Pandya in at 6. Overpitches outside the off-stump and Hardik slides it past backward point for FOUR.

Shubman Gill c Labuschagne b Starc 20 (31b 3x4)

Beaten again. Abbott gets Rahul to hang his blade outside the off-stump, well away from his body. Short and outside the off-stump and Rahul bangs the ball past deep backward point for FOUR.

Starc attempts to shape the ball across the turf and Gill leaves three deliveries on length. Fuller ball and Gill drills the ball to short cover. A thick outside-edge from Gill and it zips through the third-slip region for FOUR.

A bit of a delay as Rahul suffers a neck issue. He’s back up and we resume. Abbott attempts to lure Gill to drive outside the off-stump and he leaves the ball on length. Outside-edge from Rahul and it does not carry to second slip. Just a single from the over.

Hat-trick ball for Starc. Overpitches and Rahul drives through cover for FOUR. Starc strays down leg to concede a wide.

Sean Abbott replaces Stoinis. Close! Abbott whiffs past Gill’s outside-edge with a beautiful delivery on length. Short and wide. Gill slaps the ball over cover for FOUR. LOUD SHOUT AND GIVEN! Gill goes up for an instant review as Abbott slides one in to hit the pads. Wickets missing with the extra bounce off length and Gill survives.

Starc slides one in to hit Kohli on the pads. Stifled appeals and the Aussies decide against a review. Beauty from Starc! Lures Kohli on the front foot and swings the ball in and maintains the line outside the off-stump. Starc to Kohli, OUT! Plumb in front, a corker from Starc! Kohli gets in line to flick a fuller delivery but Starc swings it in sharply in line this time. No doubts about that one and Kohli instantly turns back towards the dressing-room. Suryakumar Yadav in at 4. Loud shout as Starc hits the pad again! Australia reviews. THREE REDS as Starc hits the top off off. A golden duck for Suryakumar.

Virat Kohli lbw b Starc 4 (9b 1x4); Suryakumar Yadav lbw b Starc 0 (1b)

Edged and flies past second slip! Hard hands from Gill and Stoinis gets the outside-edge flying past the fielder to third. Boom! Kohli’s off the mark with a superb drive down the ground for FOUR!

Edged and dropped! A snorter from Starc to find Gill’s outside-edge but Inglis drops a sharp chance to his right. A superb response. Half-volley from Starc and Gill crunches the ball through extra cover for FOUR. Starc slides the ball in and Gill tucks it towards square-leg for a single, bringing Kohli to the strike.

Marcus Stoinis from the other end. Fuller delivery and Gill crisply drives the ball to mid-off. Stoinis attempts to cramp Gill but he taps one deftly to point and sets off on a quick single. A hint of room and Kisan dabs the ball through cover for two runs. Stoinis to Kishan, OUT! The umpire raises his finger. That looks plumb. Stoinis gets one delivery to straighten sharply off the length and it rushes past the blade to hit the pads. Kishan reviews and it’s THREE REDS! First wicket for India.

Ishan Kishan lbw b Stoinis 3 (8b)

Mitchell Starc takes the new ball. Ishan Kishan takes strike. A fine outswinger to start proceedings. Kishan leans forward but leaves the ball on length. On the money this time. Starc gets a straighter line and tries to full, neatly dug out by Kishan. Starc lines one towards the pads and Kishan flicks the ball down to third for a single. Back-of-a-length delivery and Gill tucks it to backward square for a single.

Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan walk out for India.

This is Australia’s lowest first innings score in India. What started out as a promising innings ended on a rather disappointing note. Despite the early wicket of Head, Smith and Marsh kept the runs flowing at a brisk pace. Marsh in particular aggressed and hit a fifty. There was a point when 300-plus looked certain for the visitors. Jadeja arrested the momentum for India with two wickets before Shami fired in an impactful second spell and got three wickets for India. Siraj and Kuldeep wrapped up the tail to reduce Australia under 200.

Australia’s lowest scores against India in India (batting first)

• 188, Wankhede 2023*
• 193, Wankhede 2007
• 215/7, Bangalore 1996
• 220/9, Delhi 1984

Zampa tries a cover drive but is beaten by Siraj’s pace. He defends a yorker on the third delivery. Zampa edges to K.L. Rahul and that’s the end of the innings.

Adam Zampa c Rahul b Mohammed Siraj 0 (6b 0x4 0x6)

Kuldeep with his 8th over. Kuldeep sticks to the stum-to-stump line and Starc is content with blocking the over out. A maiden.

Siraj replaces Shami. OUT! Gill with another catch at slip. Siraj gets the ball to move away after pitching and Abbott commits the error of poking at the delivery. The Australians have fallen like nine pins at Wankhede. Another wicket maiden for India.

Sean Abbott c Shubman Gill b Mohammed Siraj 0 (7b 0x4 0x6)

Jadeja replaces Kuldeep. WICKET! Maxwell is caught at short mid-wicket! He was looking for an aggressive shot over the top of the infield but the bat face closes and lands straight into Hardik’s hands. Starc walks in at No. 10. FOUR! An edge beats Shardul Thakur at short third. Two dots to end the over.

Glenn Maxwell c Pandya b Jadeja 8 (10b 1x4 0x6)

Shami traps Stoinis on his pads. The appeals are denied as the ball is going down leg. OUT! The magic spell from Shami goes on. Stonis pushes at a delivery that creeps up on him and Gill is finally able to collect a catch. There was no foot movement on that shot which proved fatal for Stoinis. Sean Abbott joins Maxwell. Another wicket maiden for Shami.

Marcus Stoinis c Gill b Shami 5 (8b 1x4 0x6)

A change in attack as Kuldeep replaces Jadeja. Maxwell guides a ball that turns into his pad to deep mid-wicket for a single. FOUR. Stoinis gets down on one knee and helps the ball to the fine leg fence. Adds a run to his tally on the next ball. FOUR! Second four from the over. Maxwell uses the crease, gets on his backfoot and sends the ball to square leg fence.

Shami beats Green on the second delivery. OUT! Green is sent back to the pavilion. Shami squares him up with a delivery that moves away and hits the top of off stump. Stoinis is dropped on the first delivery. Gill is the culprit. The Australian pokes at a delivery away from his body and gets an edge. A wicket maiden!

Cameron Green b Mohammed Shami 12 (19b 0x4 0x6)

Jadeja to Marsh. A drive to long off for a single. Maxwell gets off the mark with a double. An inside edge rolls to deep square and Maxwell runs a single before it is fielded. Green is beaten on a quicker delivery. Missed the off stump by a whisker. One run from the last delivery of the over.

Finally a change in attack. Shami is back for his second spell. Inglis goes for a heave over covers but is beaten. SKY saves a certain boundary at deep point. SIX! Inglis takes on the short ball. He pulls the ball and sends it over the rope at deep square leg fence. India has taken a review.

There are appeals for a caught behind. There is daylight between bat and ball and India loses it review. OUT! Inglis is played on. Shami strikes. The ball stayed outside off. Inglis tries to punch it through cover but errs in judging the line. Maxwell is the new batter.

Josh Inglis b Mohammed Shami 26 (27b 1x4 1x6)

DROPPED! Kuldeep induces an edge from Green. The ball stays low, Gill gets a hand but the ball came at him too fast. Inglis with a couple off the next with a paddle sweep. A single to follow up. Sharp turn on the last one but Green sways back, creates room and pushes the ball to deep cover for two runs.

Jadeja begins his over with two dot balls. The first run of the over off the fourth ball - A push to long on for one run. Green with a drive to long off for a single. Green collects two off the last delivery.

The spin spell continues as Kuldeep bowls from the other end. Green collects to runs with a tap towards square leg. A single off the fourth ball to long on. Inglis adds another run to his tally with a flick to deep mid-wicket. Despite the two wickets, Australia’s run rate remains over six runs per over.

Jadeja into the sixth over of his spell. Two singles off the first two deliveries. Inglis reverse sweeps the last delivery for FOUR.

Kuldeep with his fourth over. Inglis walks down and collects a single. Labuschagne’s drive through mid off is fielded. OUT! Jadeja with a stunning catch. Marnus Labuschagne is gone. He tries to work it through the offside. He slices it and Jadeja dives to his right to catch the ball. Cameron Green is the new batter. Inglis beaten on the last ball. Just two runs from the over and a big wicket.

Marnus Labuschagne c Jadeja b Kuldeep Yadav 15 (22b 1x4 0x6)

Inglis with a drive to deep cover for a single. Marnus late cuts one but finds the short third fielder. Shami with a splendid effort in the deep to prevent a second run for Australia. On the fourth delivery, Inglis stays back and punches through covers for one run. Five singles off the over.

Kuldeep continues. Labuschagne flicks it to deep mid wicket for a single. Another single as Inglis opens his account. Inglis ends the over with a sweep to fine leg. Four runs off the over.

Jadeja saves a single with a dive to his left, stopping Labuschagne’s drive to long off. A single off the next one. Marsh then slaps to deep cover fence for FOUR. Jadeja gets Marsh! OUT! Jadeja gives it the slightest bit of flight. Marsh tries to tonk on the off side, gets an outside edge and is caught at short third-man. Inglis walks out to the middle.

Mitchell Marsh c Mohammed Siraj b Jadeja 81 (65b 10x4 5x6)

A single from Labuschagne to start Kuldeep’s over. Marsh places the ball through the gap between cover and point fielder for FOUR. The next ball goes for SIX. Marsh is breaking free here. Two off the next delivery. Marsh goes to his backfoot and cuts past point. Jadeja fields the ball to save two runs. Two dots to end the over but 13 came off it.

Jadeja continues. A gentle push from Marsh to long off for a single. The fourth ball is driven by Labuschagne to long off for one run. Hung in the air for a bit but no danger. Marsh clears his leg and smashes a SIX over long on. A maximum to finish the over.

Kuldeep Yadav is brought into the attack. Full and outside off with the first delivery. Marsh defends. FIFTY for Marsh. He rocks back and finds the fence through the covers. Another FOUR. 100 up for Australia with a cheeky paddle sweep by Marsh. A single to long off to end the over.

Jadeja to Marsh. Single on the second delivery to long on. Marsh is two runs from a fifty. Labuschagne drives the ball to long off for another single. The fourth ball turns and Marsh blocks it in backfoot. A punch to deep cover off the last ball. Marsh on 49. Just three runs from the over.

Hardik Pandya continues. The first ball is on off stump and Labuschagne plays it with a straight bat. Dot ball. Another dot and Labuschagne’s flick is stopped by mid wicket. A quick single on the third delivery as the mid on fielder collects the ball. SIX! Marsh parks the ball beyond the fence. Back-of-a-length ball from Hardik which is pulled over the deep mid-wicket boundary. A single to end the over.

FOUR! Labuschagne welcomes Ravindra Jadeja with a four through cover. Follows it up with a single to long on. The next one grips and turns away to beat Marsh. Just misses the edge. Loud appeals on the fourth delivery. This one was quicker and thuds onto the pad. Two dot balls to follow.

Mitchell Marsh leaves a delivery outside off to start the over. A tap down to third man for a single on the next one. GONE! Hardik dismisses Smith! The ball seams away and Smith’s attempt at a cut shot fails. He gets an edge and Rahul completes the catch behind the stumps. A big breakthrough for India. Labuschagne is the new man and he starts with a dot. He flicks one to fine-leg to get off the mark. Marsh beaten on the final ball.

Steven Smith c K.L. Rahul b Hardik Pandya 22 (30b 4x4 0x6)

Shardul continues. Short and Smith drags the ball towards square-leg for a single. Change of pace and Shardul hits Marsh’s back pad but the ball is comfortably missing the stumps. Slower ball on length and Smith smears the ball past point for FOUR. Huge shout and given. Shardul slides one towards the pad and seems to hit Smith in front. Smith reviews and NOT OUT! The UltraEdge shows a spike off the bat and there’s an inside-edge that saves the Australia captain.

Hardik maintains a back-of-a-length trajectory. A hint short and Marsh swats it over deep mid-wicket for a massive SIX.

Shardul replaces Siraj. Shardul hits the slot and Marsh clobbers the ball down the ground for a massive SIX.

A hint of room and Steve Smith crunches the ball through cover for FOUR - FIFTY up for Australia. Hardik slides the ball down the leg for a wide and Rahul completes another clean save. Hardik attempts an off-cutter and Marsh guards his pads with a sturdy defence. Hardik goes full and Marsh attempts for a drive away from the body and misses.

Siraj sends in a quick bumper and Marsh gets a top-edge on the pull and the ball lobs over Rahul for FOUR. Siraj hits the deck and Marsh dabs the next ball to cover. Width from Siraj and Marsh wallops the ball through extra cover for FOUR.

Hardik replaces Shami.

Hardik overpitches and Marsh scythes the ball through square-leg for FOUR. Hardik corrects his line and lures Smith for the drive outside the off-stump. Beaten! A sharp inward movement for Hardik and the ball zips past the outside-edge.

Siraj goes full and Smith steps out and pushes the ball past extra cover for FOUR. Siraj responds with a fiery bouncer over Smith’s helmet. Change of pace and Siraj hits Smith on ribs while he attempts to pull.

Shami strays to the pads and the ball slides down leg off Smith for FOUR leg byes. Another rash wide down leg is followed up with a superb diving save from KL Rahul. Shami errs in line and Smith thrashes the ball past point for FOUR.

Siraj overpitches and Marsh mistimes his hit over cover but finds FOUR nevertheless. Siraj drops short and Marsh drives elegantly through the square for another FOUR. FOUR more! Marsh creams another length delivery past mid-off to the fence.

A nervy single for Marsh as he taps one to the on-side. Shami follows up with a wide. A sharp delivery on the stumps and Smith pushes the ball to mid-on. Extra bounce again as Shami skids one onto Smith’s glove. Three dots on the trot. Beaten! Shami whiffs one past Smith’s under-edge off a loose cut away from his body.

Mohammed Siraj from the opposite end. Siraj drags the ball away and Head attempts to slash from outside the off-stump but misses. Siraj cramps Head with a gentle inswinger and Head flicks the ball to square-leg. Short and wide from Siraj and Head smashes it through cover for FOUR. Siraj to Head, OUT! Bowled! Sharper delivery moving in and Head gets an inside-edge on the drive, dragging the ball back to the stumps. The world no. 1 bowler has struck in his first over.

Travis Head b Mohammed Siraj 5 (10b 1x4)

Head on strike. Shami starts from around the wicket. A hint of inward movement for Shami and Head pokes the ball towards mid-on. Beaten! Shami extracts extra bounce off the deck as he seams the ball gently past Head’s outside-edge. Fuller delivery and Head pushes the ball through cover for a single. Sharp delivery towards the middle-stump and Shami nearly squares up Marsh who nudges the ball towards point. Shami floats one into the blockhole and Marsh nearly chips it on the full to mid-off.

Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head walk out for Australia. Mohammad Shami takes the new ball.

Hardik and Smith lead their respective sides out to the field for the national anthems.

Ravindra Jadeja will be featuring in his 300th international match. He is the 15th Indian to reach the mark.

India XI: Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya(c), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami

Australia XI: Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith(c), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis(w), Cameron Green, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Sean Abbott, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa

Toss: India wins the toss, opts to bowl

Hardik: We’ll bowl first. It is a good track and the dew factor will be there. I got some time off, breaks are like gold dust for me so it gave me a chance to rest and improve. Playing for India every game and every format is important. We have four quicks and two spinners - Shami, Siraj, Shardul and myself, with Kuldeep and Jadeja.

Steve Smith: Good toss to lose. Happy batting first because I didn’t know what to do. We got to try our best to adjust to these conditions, and get our combinations right with the WC in mind. I think we played well in the back end, and plenty of fresh faces to choose from. Alex Carey is sick so he has gone home, so Josh Inglis will come in today. David Warner is not yet fully fit, so Mitch Marsh will open the batting. The rest of the changes will come on the big television here soon enough.

Hardik Pandya and Steve Smith are in the middle for the toss.

Murali Kartik I’m at the centre pitch, 64 metres to my right and 62 metres to my left. Ajit Agarkar adds: Nice even covering of grass, very firm and will play well for 100 overs. There should be some bounce and spinners may not be in the game. Wankhede is always a chasing ground, specially with the dimensions.

Always a pleasure, beautiful to be back in India. Back home for me in Perth, it’s been one of the hotter months we’ve had, hopefully I am a little bit acclimatised. It’s certainly feeling very hot out here in the sun. Feeling really good, had a bit of a layoff, was able to get some domestic games back in Perth. Feeling really confident ahead of this. Should be a ripping series - No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the world - so it should be great. I am (playing as a pure batter). Probably a couple of weeks away from bowling. Just allowing the ankle to have a full rehabilitation and hope I’ll be back bowling at some stage during the IPL.

Wicketkeeper: KL Rahul

Batters: Virat Kohli (c), Steve Smith, Travis Head, Shubman Gill

All-rounders: Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Cameron Green (vc)

Bowlers: Mitchell Starc, Mohammad Shami, Adam Zampa

Team Composition: IND 6:5 AUS Credits Left: 8.0

Here’s why Rohit Sharma is missing the first ODI against Australia.

Australia Predicted XI: Travis Head, David Warner/Marcus Stoinis, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey, Sean Abbott, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Starc

India Predicted XI: Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya (c), Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal/Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umran Malik/Jaydev Unadkat.

Over the last few years, the slot of wicketkeeper in the Indian team has come with an additional clause - the candidate has to be a solid batter, too.

Though exactly, not a new concept - even Rahul Dravid had to double up a stumper-batter in their playing days to keep the combination right - the competition has been immense for that coveted spot.

India went into the T20 World Cup in Australia last year with three wicketkeeper-batters in its ranks - Rishabh Pant, Dinesh Karthik and KL Rahul - keeping the game’s ever-evolving nature in mind.

And soon after, in December and January, Rahul kept the stumps for six ODIs - three against Bangladesh and three against Sri Lanka - while Ishan Kishan was the preferred choice for the series against New Zealand, in the absence of Rahul, who had taken a break due to personal commitments.

India fielding coach T Dilip reckons the team achieves its balance with Rahul taking the gloves in Pant’s absence. READ MORE

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Stand-in captain Hardik Pandya has confirmed that Shubman Gill will be partnered by Ishan Kishan up top in the absence of Rohit Sharma.

The last time India squared off against Australia in an ODI at the Wankhede Stadium, in January 2020, the touring side had a cakewalk - bagging a ten-wicket victory, with Aaron Finch and David Warner hammering unbeaten centuries.

Three years, three months and a COVID-induced lockdown later, the two teams are back at the same venue for yet another ODI. A lot has changed since their last meeting - Finch has retired, India has passed on the captaincy baton to Rohit Sharma, and also there’s no Jasprit Bumrah.

And to add to India’s woes, Rohit - a true blue Mumbaikar - won’t be available for Friday’s ODI due to family commitments and in his absence, Hardik Pandya will step up as the leader.

Though he has been a regular captain in the T20I set-up, this will be Pandya’s maiden assignment as the skipper of the ODI side, and his leadership skills will be put to test against a high-profile and star-studded opponent.

In recent times, India played a total of six ODIs - three each against Sri Lanka and New Zealand - and came out victorious in every occasion. And, those statistics would certainly be in their mind, when the Indian cricketers take the field.

In the absence of Rohit, the focus will be on in-form opener Shubman Gill who is all set to open with Ishan Kishan.

Coming off a classy Test century in Ahmedabad last week, the youngster has enjoyed tremendous success in ODIs - 567 runs and three centuries in his last six ODIs, with an average of 113.40. A packed Wankhede will be pinning its hopes on the right-handed batter, while the seasoned Virat Kohli too garnering all the attention.

Leaving behind a lean patch, Kohli amassed 338 runs in six matches at an average of 67.60 and now with the rough patch behind him - after ending his barren run in the Test format, too, against the Aussies in Ahmedabad with a 186 - a much-relaxed Kohli would be hoping to add more to the 75 hundreds that he has already accumulated in international cricket. His duel with leggie Adam Zampa, who has dismissed him eight times, would be an interesting watch.

This series is also an opportunity for the struggling KL Rahul, who the team management indicated, will be given a longer rope as its preferred wicketkeeper-batter. Despite struggling to convert the starts and losing his spot from the Test squad for the last two fixtures against Australia, Rahul had scores of 73, 14 and 8 in Bangladesh, while putting up 39, 64 and 7 against Sri Lanka, at No.5 in the ODIs. And, he will be hoping to find his mojo against the mighty Aussies, who have not played any ODI since the beginning of this year.

The visiting team, however, hopes to get into the groove as a preparatory ground for the ODI World Cup, to be held in India later this year. For that, the all-rounders need to come good.

“It will be a high-scoring World Cup, you’d think if the wickets are good. From my experience, it’s nice to have options and important to have options to go to change things up and change the momentum of the batting team. More all-rounders the better,” said Mitchell Marsh.

The Aussies will feel the absence of their regular captain Pat Cummins, who lost his mother last week, but will be aiming to zero in on its combination for the World Cup, under the leadership of the much-experienced Steve Smith.

Marsh, returning from a long injury lay-off, will not be bowling in the series, whereas for David Warner, who sustained an elbow injury during Test series, it will be a challenge to regain his lost touch and cement his place .

This series gives the Aussies a chance to play in three different venues - Mumbai, Visakhapatnam and Chennai - with varied conditions, and under a wily Smith’s leadership, the team hopes to learn as much as possible in terms of handling the pressure and assessing the conditions - an experience, they feel, will be beneficial ahead of the World Cup.

In the absence of Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj will look to make the most of the opportunity, whereas the spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal, who bowled in tandem in the nets, will be hoping to maintain their dominance in white-ball cricket. In the last five matches, Kuldeep claimed 11 wickets.

A dominant show in the just-concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy has boosted the home team’s confidence—time to keep the momentum going in the shorter format, too.

IND vs AUS 1st ODI squads

India: Hardik Pandya (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, K L Rahul, Ishan Kishan (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohd Shami, Mohd Siraj, Umran Malik, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Jaydev Unadkat.

Australia: Steven Smith (captain), David Warner, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa.

When will the India vs Australia 1st ODI be played?

The 1st ODI between India and Australia will be played on Friday, March 17. The match will start at 1:30 PM IST.

Where will the India vs Australia 1st ODI be played?

The 1st ODI between India and Australia will be played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Where to watch the live telecast of India vs Australia 1st ODI?

The 1st ODI between India and Australia will be telecasted on the Star Sports Network.

Where to live stream the India vs Australia 1st ODI?

The 1st ODI between India and Australia will be streamed live on the Disney+ Hotstar application.

When will the coin toss take place for India vs Australia 1st ODI?

The coin for the India vs Australia 1st ODI will be tossed at 1:00 PM IST.