India will begin their World Cup 2023 campaign on October 8 against Australia in Chennai. As usual, the question on everybody’s mind will be the team combination for the mega clash. With the MA Chidambaram pitch aiding spinners more, common logic suggests India should go with Ravichandran Ashwin. However, with Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja locked in as the two spinners in the playing XI, skipper Rohit Sharma could also be tempted to play Mohammed Shami as the third pacer.
Shami has enough form to warrant a place in the playing XI, he picked up a five-fer in the Asia Cup and was pretty economical as well. Ashwin made a comeback in the ODI team after 20 months and picked up four wickets in the two matches. Both players are in form, and Rohit Sharma has a tough choice to make as to whom to play against Pat Cummins & Co.
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IND vs AUS: Ashwin, Shami headache for Rohit Sharma as India aim to start WC on a winning note
With Mohammed Siraj showing enough form in the past 12 months, the pacer will open the bowling attack with Jasprit Bumrah. Hardik Pandya will play the finisher role and will also bowl in the middle overs. With 10 spots fixed for the first clash. It is a toss-up between Ashwin and Shami. In this year’s IPL, the Chennai pitch had something in for spinners as Theekshana and Jadeja were amongst the wickets for CSK.
However, other IPL teams showed that spinners can be attacked by playing the ball straight. Also, pacers will give some initial movement at MA Chidambaram’s surface. Shami can be a handful on conditions like this, as he can swing the ball well. Also, the veteran pacer is a power play specialist, picking over 15 wickets in the first 10 overs in the past 15 months.
India will have a training session today, and Rohit can decide based on the form Ashwin and Shami show.
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