Countdown to the ODI World Cup
India’s Momentum vs. Australia’s Redemption in Rajkot”
As India gears up for their final ODI match before the eagerly anticipated home ODI World Cup, they find themselves in a mixed state of readiness. This game was originally designed as a dress rehearsal for their World Cup opener against Australia on October 8th in Chennai. However, the Indian squad is facing significant challenges with several key players missing. Nevertheless, the return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli brings renewed hope, with a historic whitewash of Australia in their sights as they build momentum for the marquee event.
On the other side of the pitch, Australia, traditionally considered one of the frontrunners for the World Cup, has endured a contrasting run of form. They arrived in India on the back of three consecutive ODI losses to South Africa and have since added two more to their tally. Sean Abbott, reflecting on Australia’s struggles, attributed their woes to a lack of execution, despite glimpses of promise along the way.
While another defeat might not dent Australia’s World Cup ambitions significantly, a victory in Rajkot on Wednesday could provide a much-needed morale boost as they prepare to face another formidable challenge in Chennai.
Match Details:
Date: September 27, 13:30 IST
Venue: Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot
Weather Forecast: Expect a sunny day with temperatures soaring to 35 degrees Celsius. The pitch, known for its flat nature, is likely to favor the batsmen once more. In four out of the last six ODIs at this venue, the 300-run mark has been surpassed. In the most recent ODI here in January 2020, India scored 340, while Australia responded with 304.
Probable Playing XI for Both Teams:
India:
- Shubman Gill
- Ruturaj Gaikwad
- Shreyas Iyer
- KL Rahul (C, WK)
- Ishan Kishan (WK)
- Suryakumar Yadav
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Ravichandran Ashwin
- Shardul Thakur
- Mohammed Shami
- Prasidh Krishna
Australia:
- David Warner
- Matthew Short
- Steven Smith (C)
- Marnus Labuschagne
- Josh Inglis (WK)
- Alex Carey (WK)
- Cameron Green
- Sean Abbott
- Adam Zampa
- Josh Hazlewood
- Spencer Johnson
Bench for Both Teams: (Subject to changes)
- India: Rohit Sharma (c), Virat Kohli, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
- Australia: Tilak Varma, Washington Sundar, Mukesh Kumar, Mitchell Marsh, Marcus Stoinis, Pat Cummins, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Ellis
Predicted Playing XI for India:
- Rohit Sharma (c)
- Ishan Kishan
- Virat Kohli
- Shreyas Iyer
- KL Rahul (wk)
- Suryakumar Yadav
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Ravichandran Ashwin
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Mohammed Siraj
It’s a high-stakes clash in Rajkot as both teams look to fine-tune their preparations for the upcoming ODI World Cup, with India aiming for a clean sweep and Australia seeking redemption. Stay tuned for an exciting showdown!
