AUS vs IND: Live Streaming, Match Preview, Timings, Stats, Pitch Report & more for ODI Series, Match 1

March 3, 2020. This was the last time team India took the field at the international level and then the COVID-19 outbreak stopped the world. And they resume their stint at the highest level with one of the toughest tours. India and Australia will renew their rivalry in one of the most awaited summers Down Under. It all starts with the three-match ODI series with the opening game to be played in Sydney.

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A lot has changed since India last played international cricket and they had to train while being in quarantine after landing in Australia a couple of weeks. Unfortunately for them, Rohit Sharma has been the talking point with the way BCCI and the man himself have handled his injury. While the team will certainly miss him, the Men in Blue are not bereft of top players, when it comes to the shorter formats of the game.

Virat Kohli is undoubtedly one of the best players while KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer are more established players in the ODI set up. Shikhar Dhawan was in good form in the IPL and he would like to carry on in the same vein. With Hardik Pandya not bowling, the team balance will definitely hamper and the visitors will most likely have to go with four specialist bowlers and hope that Ravindra Jadeja has a good day with the ball.

Australia have their top guns in David Warner and Steve Smith back after missing them during India’s last tour Down Under. When it comes to playing at home, the Men in Yellow are near invincible and are very tough to beat and most importantly, their gun bowler Mitchell Starc is fresh and raring to go having not played much cricket in last 8 months.

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Pitch and Conditions

It might rain a bit in Sydney on Friday morning. But sun will come just at the perfect time for the play to start on time. The Sydney pitch is known to be a decent batting deck with spinners having their say as the game progresses. The likes of Adam Zampa and Yuzvendra Chahal will be hard to get away with, especially in the second innings.

Playing Combinations for AUS vs IND

Australia

The incumbent opening duo of David Warner and Aaron Finch will start the proceedings for the hosts with Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne to follow. Glenn Maxwell will be desperate to put his poor IPL stint behind and prove yet again that ‘his role while playing for Australia is clear’.

The much-famed pace trio of Tests is back for the ODIs as well now after a brilliant performance from Josh Hazlewood in England ODIs while Adam Zampa’s leg-spin will play a huge role, especially in troubling Virat Kohli.

Probable XI: Aaron Finch (C), David Warner, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey (WK), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Adam Zampa

India

Mayank Agarwal will most likely open the innings with Shikhar Dhawan in Rohit’s absence for India. Middle-order is the strongest for India with Kohli, Iyer and Rahul to follow. Rahul will probably have to don the finishing duties as well with Hardik Pandya. The latter not bowling is a huge worry for the visitors as it restricts them to only five bowling options with Ravindra Jadeja being the fifth bowler.

Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah are the pace options and Yuzvendra Chahal selects himself. There will mostly be a toss-up between Navdeep Saini and Shardul Thakur for the third pacer. It will come down to who bats better between them at eight as well. Kuldeep Yadav is another option given the nature of SCG surface but then India’s tail will be too long.

Probable XI: Shikhar Dhawan, Mayank Agarwal, Virat Kohli (C), Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur/Navdeep Saini, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah

AUS vs IND Head to Head

Played – 140 | Australia won – 78 | India won – 52 | NR – 10

In Australia

Played – 51 | Australia won – 36 | India won – 13 | NR – 2

Stat Attack

66.71: Steve Smith boasts of a 66.71 batting average in AUS vs IND ODIs at home. He has amassed 467 runs in 7 innings with the help of two centuries and a fifty.

268: India will take the field after a massive 268-day in international cricket. This is the longest break for the Indian Men’s team in almost 29 years.

AUS vs IND Broadcast Details

TV – Sony Ten 1, Sony Ten 1 HD, Sony Ten 3, Sony Ten 3 HD

Live Streaming – Sony LIV

Match Timings – 9:10 AM IST; 2:40 PM local