India vs. Australia series is always full of suspense and plenty of drama, as we have witnessed in the recent past which in itself further comprised of brain fade, sledging and top-notch cricket from the players and competitive approach on both sides.
Team India is scheduled to host Australia in the bilateral series, and we are bound to witness one-on-one battles between different set of players in the sub-continent where Australia has struggled against slow bowlers.
Australia will begin their five-match One-day International series against India, as the visitors are scheduled to take on hosts in Chennai on September 17.
India-Australia are scheduled to play three-match twenty20 International series which will kick-off in next month and the series would run through October 13.
ICC’s World No. two ranked side, Australia is aiming to give a tough fight to the World No. Three side which is playing at home.
The Kangaroos are still struggling to avail the services of fast bowler Mitchell Starc, who is recovering from his foot injury which further saw the Australia announcing the 14 member squad for the 50-over format.
While believing in the rotation policy, the formidable India, after routing Sri Lanka, is aiming to reach to the greater heights in the particular format after dominating the Test set-up over past one year.
Adding much to the relief of the visitors, the chairman of selectors MSK Prasad revealed the slow bowlers in the form of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have been rested which further saw young bowlers leaving an imprint against Sri Lanka with the white-ball.
Have a look at the five battles between the players which would make the limited-overs series enticing and enriching for the spectators:
Virat Kohli Vs Pat Cummins:
Adding the strength to the batting order, Indian skipper Virat Kohli has been a backbone for India across all three formats of the game, but when it comes to One-day Internationals, the talismanic batsman rose to the occasion by scoring at brisk pace in the competition.
The 28-year-old Delhi-born middle-order batsman Kohli scored 8,587 runs in 186 innings of 194 ODIs.
Brilliant with the bat especially while chasing down the target, Kohli overall is averaging 55.75, as he went on to register 30 hundreds and 44 fifties since emerging onto International scene.
Kohli would face pace potent Pat Cummins, who will likely spearhead the pace bowling attack in the competition alongside Nathan Coulter-Nile and Kane Richardson, who has been the replacement for Josh Hazlewood after he had withdrawn from the Dhaka Test due to a side strain.
It would be interesting battle between the two competitors as strongly built Cummins has the ability to make the ball talking.
The Sydney-born Cummins, who could unsettle the quality batting line-up with short-pitch ploy, played 31 ODIs in which he has bagged 53 wickets at an average of 27.30. He has claimed the best figures of 4 for 41.
David Warner Vs Umesh Yadav:
The 30-year-ol Paddington-born explosive opening batsman David Warner has played an important role for Australia throughout the years while playing his natural game.
The well-built Warner has flayed the highly-fancied bowling attacks while playing the sensible knocks during the fixtures across the cricketing globe after being criticized for failing – to play the defensive cricket according to the team’s need.
The left-handed batsman Warner is averaging 44.72 in 96 ODIs. He has eventually smashed 13 centuries and 16 fifties to leave an impact in the international set-up for Australia.
It would be fascinating battle between Warner and right-arm pacer Umesh Yadav during the impending series. Both are wearing a heart on their sleeves while donning the national jersey,
Fast bowler Umesh Yadav, who has had made his return in the ODI fold, before being named in the 16-member squad for the first three ODIs after featuring in the last limited-overs fixture in July.
The right-arm fast bowler, Yadav has come a long way by giving his best performance in the recent past after going through a lean patch with the ball. Having the ability to turn on the game on its head, Yadav has gained the experience in a bid to test the quality batters in the opposition side.
The 29-year-ol Yadav, who has shown a lot of promise, bagged 98 wickets in 70 ODIs at an average of 32.84. His aggression with the ball could come in handy against Australia side banking on the senior campaigners.
Yadav has braced up for the challenge, as he has lot of gas left in him.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni Vs Adam Zampa:
Former skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s presence for India means a lot for the current scenario, as he has been a prominent figure for India particularly in the One-day format.
While taking through his numbers, Dhoni has not been a stylish player to be cherished by his fans, but the impact as a skipper at the first instance that eventually has made him a star in nutshell which further saw the flurry of his runs from his bat.
The 36-year-old Dhoni is averaging 52.50 in 301 ODIs after amassing 9,658 runs in 259 innings.
The Ranchi-born gloveman has collected 10 centuries and 65 half-centuries and would be eyeing more before announcing his retirement.
It would be a key battle between Dhoni and the young bowler Adam Zampa at former’s home-ground in Chennai in the series opener.
Pertinently, the 25-year-old leg-spinner Zampa has been the part of widely acclaimed Indian Premier League’s now defunct franchise Rising Pune Supergiant, for which Dhoni has been also a part of.
The New South Wales-born Zampa claimed 36 wickets in 24 ODIs at an average of 29.33, as he is eyeing to cement his spot in the set-up which is hard owing to such a competition.
His best figures include 3 for 16 which further show his economy of 5.45.
Both the players would be aware about each other’s weakness and strengthen and they fate would decide the day for splendid Dhoni and hard-working Zampa in such a context.
Steven Smith Vs Kuldeep Yadav:
Shouldering the responsibility Steven Smith has two roles to play during the competition, as he has been right up there to challenge the competitors.
Following the stellar rise in his career after bursting on to the international scene, as a slow-bowling all-rounder, Smith has transformed himself into a versatile batsman while enjoying to be among runs owing to his comfort zone.
The 28-year-old Smith has earned the massive reputation, as he has been eventually considered as one of the best batsman in the contemporary cricket.
On the other side, the Chinaman Kuldeep Yadav could pose a serious threat to the Smith even though the Aussie cricketer is playing spin well.
The Kanpur-born 22-year-old Kuldeep, who made his international debut against Australia in the Tests, bagged four wickets in Dharamsala Test and is eyeing to make things tougher in his first ODI against Australian at home.
The left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep claimed 11 wickets in seven ODIs at the average of 20.81.
Glenn Maxwell Vs Hardik Pandya:
As a batting all-rounder, Glenn Maxwell is expected to strengthen the batting order and has eventually a lot to prove with the ball, as his batting is inconsistent.
Following the impressive run in the professional leagues, Maxwell is looking forward to give his hundred per cent in the much-awaited series, as he is expected to pose a threat particularly with the bat against the decent bowling department.
Australian skipper Steven Smith, who would have had pinned hopes on the all-rounder, Maxwell on the other side would like to spend the quality time on the crease, in a bid to be among runs.
The explosive batsman Maxwell has failed to live up to the expectations and he would like to leave an impact with the all-round show.
The 28-year-old Melbourne-born Maxwell has played 77 ODIs in which he registered 1,977 runs, at an average of 32.95. He has a solitary century to his name after collecting 15 fifties.
With his off-spin bowling, Maxwell has bagged 45 wickets at an average of 38.66 in 60 innings of 77 matches, in 50-over format.
The series would witness the two all-rounder including Hardik Pandya, who has been touted as next big thing for India.
The entertaining duel would bring lot the table as positivity would fetch more success to the players while relying on their strength and basics.
The much-hyped all-rounder Pandya has somehow proved the point while showing the glimpse particularly with the bat during the major tournament against Pakistan in England.
It would be interesting to see how much Pandya can produce out of the backyard surface with his medium-pace, but one thing is sure he established himself more sort of a batting all-rounder.
The promising star Pandya, who likes to contribute, has represented India in 21 ODIs. He scored 308 runs at an average of 34.22.
The 23-year-old Gujarat-born bowler Pandya, has also claimed 23 wickets at an average of 35.26.
Both the players are capable of playing an integral role owing to their versatility while having an enormous talent on their back.