With just less than three weeks to go before the start of the World Cup 2023, India will play their final home bilateral series of 2023 against Australia (IND vs AUS ODI) starting from September 22. However, considering the workload of players, management has rested the likes of Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, and Rohit Sharma for the first two ODIs against Australia. KL Rahul will lead the side in the two matches, while Rohit Sharma, Pandya and Virat Kohli will return for the final ODI. Bumrah is selected for all three ODIs.
Team management will let key players take a rest during the series, after they get selected for the 3-match series. India will have 2 warm-up matches where they will try to flex their muscle ahead of the WC.
India are set to play two warm-up matches against England and Netherlands. The two matches will allow India to play their best playing XI ahead of their World Cup games starting from October 8. Since the management does not want players to feel fatigued during the WC games, they are keen to provide ample rest to the senior players.
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The Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel is set to announce the squad for the three-match ODI series against Australia this week.
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The batting order is set as Gill is set to open along with either Rohit Sharma or Ishan Kishan. The wicketkeeper batter opened in the final match against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup. Kishan has fairly performed well as the opener of the side.
In the middle order, the usual suspects Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, & KL Rahul will slot it. India would like to test Iyer’s fitness before the World Cup. The right-hand batter has only faced 9 balls and has fielded close to 50 overs before back problems again cropped up.
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Speaking about the all-rounders, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, and Shardul Thakur are set to play on a rotational basis. Pandya is likely to be rested along with Jadeja. Shardul is likely to bat at number seven.
In the bowling, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Shami, Washington Sundar, and Kuldeep Yadav will slot in. With Bumrah set to be given rest, Shami will get his chances. Meanwhile, Ravichandran Ashwin makes a comeback to the squad after 20 months. The off-spinner is also likely to be included in WC squad
IND Squad for first 2 ODIs against Australia
KL Rahul (Captain), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, Tilak Varma, Prasidh Krishna, R Ashwin, and Washington Sundar
IND squad for 3rd ODI
Rohit Sharma (C), Hardik Pandya, (Vice-captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel*, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, R Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj
