On March 17, India and Australia will commence a three-match ODI series in Mumbai. This series holds significant importance for both teams, as the World Cup will be held in India later this year. However, Australia will be without their regular captain Pat Cummins, who has decided to stay with his family after his mother’s death during the Test series. As a result, Steve Smith will take over the captaincy responsibilities for the series.
Similarly, India will miss their captain Rohit Sharma for the first ODI due to personal commitments. All-rounder Hardik Pandya will lead India in the series opener, while Rohit will return to the team for the second match and resume his leadership duties. This ODI series will be a crucial opportunity for both teams to test their strengths and weaknesses ahead of the World Cup, and the absence of regular captains for the first match could add a twist to the proceedings.
In the meantime, former Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer has picked India’s playing XI for the series opener against Australia.
Jaffer selected five batters with Ishan Kishan as the wicketkeeper-batter along with three all-rounders in Hardik, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar.
The cricketer-turned-mentor named Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj as two pacers, while Kuldeep Yadav was picked as the only specialist spinner.
KL Rahul, who is going through a lean patch in Test cricket, was selected to bat in the middle-order. Star batter Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav comes in at number 3 and 4, respectively.
Wasim Jaffer’s India XI for first ODI against Australia:
Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan (wk), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya (c), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj
My India XI for first ODI:
Gill
Ishan (WK)
VK
Surya
KL
Hardik (C)
Jadeja
Washi
Kuldeep
Shami
SirajWhat’s yours? #INDvAUS
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) March 16, 2023