Xtra Time Web Desk: Team India wicketkeeper batter Ishan Kishan is the front-runner to open the batting in the first ODI against Australia at the Wankhede stadium on Friday, March 17. The left hander will get an opportunity to open as Rohit Sharma is not available for the ODI series opener due to personal commitments. The big question is who will open with Ishan. Two names that are doing rounds are KL Rahul and Shubman Gill. Despite going through a poor run of form which saw Rahul getting dropped from test playing XI, can still sneak into the playing XI. Advantage for Rahul is he can also keep wickets. Shubman also has a good chance to play as he is in red hot form across formats.
Hardik Pandya will lead the side in the absence of Rohit Sharma. Rohit and Shreyas Iyer’s absence will give the team management an opportunity to play both KL Rahul and Suryakumar in the middle order with Ishan and Shubman opening the batting. Ishan is also amongst runs, having scored a double hundred in the last ODI series against Bangladesh
Virat Kohli will walk in at No 3 followed by Suryakumar Yadav, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, and Ravindra Jadeja.
It will be interesting to see who will bat at No 8. It will be a three-way fight between Axar Patel, Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur. The two fast bowlers will be Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj. Yuzuvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav will fight for the third spinner’s slot.
The upcoming ODI series will be the start of dress rehearsal for Indian team for the 50 overs World Cup in October and November.
Let us look at the probable India Playing XI: Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar / Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav / Yuzvendra Chahal