The Indian cricket team sweated it out in the nets on Thursday ahead of the first ODI of three matches against Australia. India will take on Australia in the first ODI in Mohali on Friday. The three-match series against Australia will be India’s last assignment before the ICC Cricket World Cup at home from October 5. Ruturaj Gaikwad, Tilak Varma, KL Rahul, India’s skipper for the first two ODIs, and Suryakumar Yadav were seen practicing in the nets. This series will be crucial for Ruturaj and Tilak as it will give them some game time ahead of the start of their men’s cricket campaign at the Asian Games from October 3. KL, who recently made a triumphant return to India’s Asia Cup-winning campaign, will also look to unleash “KL 2.0”, as he is described by fans for looking more confident and aggressive while batting, on Aussies.
Suryakumar Yadav’s future as an ODI player could also depend on this series as many fans have called for his dismissal from the squad after a disappointing run of performances in the 50-over format. With a score of 537 in 27 ODIs at an average of around 24 with just two fifties, the clock is ticking for this batsman, who on the other hand has experienced one of the greatest ever spikes in form in T20Is.
1,841 runs in 53 T20I matches at an average of over 46, a strike rate of over 172 and three centuries, and 15 fifties contrast with his ODI statistics. This leaves many wondering why he hasn’t cracked the ODI code so far. On the other hand, many players, fans and even the team management continue to support him, hoping that this ferocious ball-striker will make his way in ODIs and replicate his otherworldly T20I performances.
Preparations for the start of a smashing series #TeamIndia | #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/Jmwm7FkfmN
— BCCI (@BCCI) September 21, 2023
Before the match, head coach Rahul Dravid said about Surya, “We have picked our team for the World Cup and Surya is in it.”
“We have made the decision to do that and we fully support him. We support him because he has a certain quality and skill that we have seen. Yes, I know we have only seen it in T20 cricket at the moment, But we know the kind of impact a player like him can make when he hits six.”
— BCCI (@BCCI) September 21, 2023
“He can change the course of a game, so we have fully supported him. We have been quite clear about that. There is complete clarity that we are fully behind him.”
— BCCI (@BCCI) September 21, 2023
“We know that hopefully he will be able to turn it around in these three games. Again, he is someone who will get these three games, and at least the first few for sure, to be able to redevelop and continue to grow.” journey as a one-day cricketer,” Dravid concluded.
India squad for the first 2 ODIs:KL Rahul (captain and wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja (vice-captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Shardul Thakur, Washington Sundar, R Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd . Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna
Indian squad for final 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 (subject to change) of fitness), Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, R Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj.
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