A no. 1 trifecta isn’t the worst way to begin proceedings for a home World Cup. Especially when the metaphorical base is otherwise shaky with injury troubles, selection dilemmas, form trouble, and the problem of plenty. India are now the no. 1 ranked team in all three formats after the win in Mohali – a run-chase where they took it deep and finished the job effectively, with four half-centurions in the batting order.
India couldn’t have timed it better. KL Rahul has a pressure hundred and an unbeaten captain’s half-century under his belt. Suryakumar Yadav not only has a run against his name after four innings against Australia, he also scored a fifty at quicker than a run-a-ball — an innings where he admitted to “playing slower and taking it deep”.
Shreyas Iyer is on the field. Two Indian pacers have taken five-wicket hauls in two consecutive ODIs, both in winning causes. No one is exactly out of form, even though Iyer lacks game time, and India’s first choice XI remains a mystery.
Nevertheless, India are roaring at the right time.
Australia, however, have had a bit of an aberration. The loss against India was their fourth on the trot in ODI cricket – an anomaly in a World Cup year for the five-time champions. In fact, in the lead-up to the 2019 World Cup, Australia made a 3-2 comeback after being 0-2 down against India. This time, however, Australia were dealt a dose of their own medicine by South Africa – beating Australia 3-2, after being 0-2 down.
The batting, despite the crucial absence of Travis Head, showed tremendous grit, with all the batters getting off to starts, but none of them converting it into a big hundred – and there are at least three capable of doing so on a consistent basis – Warner, Smith, and Labuschagne. The bowling, admittedly, has had its chinks, but they have two ODIs against the hosts and two warm-ups left before their campaign begins. Moreover, the bowling attack has kept its lethal weapon safe in the changeroom.
Australia knows its shortcomings, and have come well prepared. It’s a World Cup year, and it’s a crime to write Australia off.
When: India vs Australia, 2nd ODI on Sunday, 24th September 2023, 1:30 PM local
Where: Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore
What to expect: Runs. Oh, so many runs. Indore has seen some extraordinary innings played, including Virender Sehwag’s once-highest ODI score of 219 in 2011, and Rohit Sharma’s ridiculous 36-ball hundred against Sri Lanka in 2018. 400+ ODI scores, 250+ T20I scores. Expect an absolute road, and a major test for the bowlers in preparation for the World Cup, and the best possible opportunity for out-of-sorts batters to get some runs under their belts. Especially with straight boundaries shorter than 70 meters, and square boundaries shorter than 60 meters will certainly test the spinners who dare to bowl.
Team News
India
With Kuldeep Yadav continuing his rest period, Ravichandran Ashwin should get another game given his impressive spell in the first. India will hope that Iyer and Kishan get back amongst the runs. However, the bowlers are likely to be rotated around again. With a gap of just two days between ODIs, it seems prudent to rest Jasprit Bumrah and play Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami in Indore.
Probable XI:Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (c, wk), Tilak Varma/Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami/Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
Australia
Cummins had said after ODI series opener that Starc won’t be ready for the second game yet, meaning Australia could likely stick to the same XI.
Probable XI:David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Marcus Stoinis, Sean Abbott, Pat Cummins (c), Josh Hazlewood, Adam Zampa