Dream come true for Ravichandran Ashwin. The veteran all-rounder starts at his home stadium in the India vs Australia clash. Previously, Ashwin had never played at Chennai in a World Cup match. As India kickstarted their World Cup campaign against Australia, Ashwin is a major addition to the Indian Cricket Team.
Looking at the pitch conditions, India headed into the game with 3 spinners. Ashwin is joined by Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja. With black soil on the pitch and slow turning conditions, the pitch at Cheaupak is a dream for the spinners.
Pat Cummins-led Australia won the toss and decided to bat first against Rohit Sharma’s India in the fifth ODI World Cup 2023 match at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Sunday. Both India and Australia are considered one of the best teams in the ODI World Cup. Both teams will be looking to start their campaigns with a win.
Speaking at the toss, 36-year-old Indian skipper Rohit Sharma confirmed that Shubman Gill will be missing the Men in Blue’s opening match of the tournament due to illness and Ishan Kishan will replace him. “The conditions are there for the bowlers, slightly on the slower side. We need to understand our lines and lengths early. We’ve played a lot of cricket before the WC, played two good series’ and covered all our bases. He hasn’t recovered in time. Ishan comes in to replace him, he will open the batting,” Rohit said.
India Playing XI vs AUS: Gill ruled out, Ishan to open, India play 3 spinners
Ravindra Jadeja and Ravi Ashwin are very good with the bat and bring in handy runs should the situation warrant. Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah comprises of the bowlers slot.
The pitch in Chennai will favour spin and therefore the Men in Blue will go with 3 spin options in India Playing XI vs AUS. The likes of Ravindra Jadeja, Ravi Ashwin and Kuldeep Yadav will be the primary choices. But that also means Mohammad Shami could miss out as Bumrah and Siraj will spearhead the pace attack. Hardik Pandya can fill the role of a third pacer in the squad.
India playing XI: Rohit Sharma (C), Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (Wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.
Australia playing XI: David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (Wk), Glenn Maxwell, Pat Cummins (C), Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Adam Zampa.
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