ICC World Cup 2019 – Match 14: IND vs AUS – India Predicted Playing XI

Team India got into the way of Australia, broke their long-time winning streak and knocked them out of World Cup 2011. The Kangaroos had their revenge when these two sides met again in World Cup 2015 as they knock India out in the semi-final. The battle between both these teams in the last two World Cup games was quite interesting and it revives yet again in the latest edition of the cricketing carnival.

Even though they were the last team to play in the tournament, the ‘Men in Blue‘ proved their dominance when they faced South Africa. The team managed to register a six-wicket win and got off the blocks on a great note. But they will be facing the juggernauts Australia in their next game. With the kind of cricket the Aussies have been playing, India will have to fight hard if they are to get another two points under their belt and possibly seek revenge.

Here is the Predicted Playing XI for India

Openers (Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan)

Both the Indian openers were tested by the brilliance of Kagiso Rabada in the last game. He was literally breathing fire and bowled some unplayable ball. The two of them had their moments and the balls that went up in the air didn’t carry to the fielders on a few occasions. However, Shikhar Dhawan failed to make the most of this opportunity. He went poking at a delivery bowled outside the off-stump and edged one to the wicket-keeper.

Rohit Sharma, though, remained composed during the early part of the innings and went onto score a big hundred. But facing someone like Mitchell Starc won’t be easy to these two. They have particularly struggled against the left-arm pacers and could have a torrid time yet again. Pat Cummins will also look to examine their skill while facing quality swing bowlers. If will be great if the openers could survive the first ten overs and lay the platform for the rest to capitalise.

Middle Order (Virat Kohli (c), KL Rahul, MS Dhoni (wk))

Virat Kohli, KL Rahul and MS Dhoni will comprise the Indian middle order. The Indian skipper yet again when fishing at a ball that was bowled outside the off-stump and was out caught behind the stumps in the last game. While he seemed to have improved, that still remains to one of the potential weaknesses of his. The Australian bowlers will yet again target him there but he is too good a player to get out for the same shot in consecutive games.

Rahul did a decent job at four in the last game. He mustered 26 runs but Rabada proved to be too good for him. The 26-year-old had to pay the price for playing an extremely poor shot and should look to be more sensible in the next game. MS Dhoni looked good in against the Proteas and timed the ball well. The wicket-keeper batsman got out towards the end of the chase as he tried to smash one out of the park.

All Rounders (Kedar Jadhav, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja)

Kedar Jadhav regained his fitness just in time and got an opportunity to be in the playing eleven for the game against the Proteas. With the top-order doing a decent job, he didn’t get an opportunity to bat. With the ball, he bowled four overs where he conceded 16 runs. Jadhav is expected to hold onto his place in the team for the upcoming game as well. Hardik Pandya is possibly in the form of his life with the bat in hand.

The all-rounder got a few balls to face in the last game and made most of the opportunity. While he didn’t pick up any wickets, Hardik adds the balance to the side. Having the depth in the line-up will be critical when facing a side like Australia. For the same reason, India might even rope Ravindra Jadeja into the eleven. The southpaw could replace Kuldeep Yadav in the team.

Bowlers (Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah)

Bhuvneshwar Kumar finding a place in the starting eleven was something that wasn’t expected in the last game. But he could play in the upcoming game as well. He had a decent outing where he picked up two wickets in 10 overs. He would look to test someone like Aaron Finch with some swing early on. Jasprit Bumrah is the most crucial member in the Indian bowling line-up.

It would a challenge for the Australian batsmen facing him. They’d look to play him more on the leg-side rather than trying to hit him away from the body. Yuzvendra Chahal, who picked up four wickets in the last game, will be the other spinner in the line-up. The team will hope that he performs just as well in this game also.