Live: IND Vs AUS 1st T-20 | Live Scores and Commentary | 2019 Series
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VISAKHAPATNAM: The countdown has begun. In less than 100 days, the World Cup will be upon us and the teams are keen to get the permutation right before they head to Old Blighty.
Some like India and Australia would want to enhance their credentials in the showpiece event, where they have been the last men standing on more than one occasion.
The Indians look a settled lot and the return of KL Rahul, one of the three Indians with a century in this format, will fuel further debate over his position in the 50-over batting order. The recent T20Is featuring India have seen Rahul and Kohli juggling positions 3 and 4, while Karthik and Rishabh Pant have batted at No.6.
All eyes will be on Vijay Shankar and Krunal Pandya and their ability to measure up to the challenge. Hardik Pandya's injury enforced absence will, however, upset the team's balance. Kuldeep Yadav has been rested for the series but the Aussies are unlikely to get any respite, what with the threat of Jasprit Bumrah looming large.
The Big Bash League (BBL) would have prepared the Aussies well for the arduous challenge here. Even without David Warner and Steve Smith, they have firepower in the form of skipper Aaron Finch, Usman Khawaja, Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis. Shaun Marsh is expected to join the team midway through the ODI series.
The Indian team management is still looking to finalise a couple of spots ahead of the 2019 World Cup and the next couple of weeks, when they face off against familiar foes Australia in a limited overs series starting with a first Twenty20 International in Visakhapatnam on Sunday, provides that opportunity.
The two T20Is against Australia followed by five One-Day Internationals will be their last assignment before the mega-event in England and Wales and these games provide the opportunity for an extended audition for the World Cup hopefuls, who are yet to confirm their spots.
Rahul has struggled in the last couple of months both on and with events off the field as well. The 26-year-old will look to make the most of these games in order to get a place in the World Cup squad as a back-up opener. There has been talk about playing Rahul at No. 3 just to give him some game-time, and if that's not the case, India might try to include him in the XI by resting one of their regular openers.
The established openers didn't get big runs in New Zealand and this series will serve as a perfect platform for them to get some runs behind them before the IPL starts. Similarly, MS Dhoni will be keen to build on his encouraging form in recent games in Australia and New Zealand.
With the return of India's No. 1 paceman Bumrah, the bowling department looks quite sorted. Siddarth Kaul and Umesh Yadav too will have a point to prove in case India are looking to include four pacers in the World Cup squad.
While rookie legspinner Mayank Markande is in the squad, India in all likelihood will go in with the tested pair of Yuzvendra Chahal and Krunal Pandya, who have done reasonably well for the home team in recent times. Kuldeep Yadav has been rested for the T20Is but will be back for the ODI series.
Meanwhile, the Aaron Finch-led side are fresh from the Big Bash League campaign with six players including the skipper featuring in the all-Melbourne final on February 17. Player of the Tournament D'Arcy Short and competition's leading wicket-taker Kane Richardson will look to build on their form, and the onus will be on the former to rectify his stats on Indian tracks.
The series will be equally important for Alex Carey, Jhye Richardson, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Peter Handscomb, Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Lyon, Ashton Turner and Adam Zampa who are all part of the World Cup plans. Marcus Stoinis has been in good form and will look to make an impact as he did in 2017.
India haven't been very consistent in the shortest format of the game and recently lost 1-2 to New Zealand, and while their both eyes will on the World Cup, they will want to make sure that those "World Cup goals" aren't achieved at the expense of series.
Squads:
India: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli (capt), KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Dinesh Karthik, MS Dhoni, Krunal Pandya, Vijay Shankar, Siddarth Kaul, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mayank Markande.
Australia: Aaron Finch (capt), Alex Carey, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, D'Arcy Short, Marcus Stoinis, Pat Cummins, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Peter Handscomb, Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Lyon, Ashton Turner, Adam Zampa.
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