Let’s check some history first.
India hosted Australia in six ODIs on Indian soil this year. They won three each. The series in March was clinched by Australia. India prevailed in September. It’s an almost exact reflection of how these two teams have done against each other in this format in India. After 70 outings, it’s Australia 33-32.
That’s a hint of the kind of opposition India will be expecting in the first match of their home World Cup, in Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday (October 8). The venue itself is witness to a World Cup heart-stopper between India and Australia. It was in 1987 and the first match of the tournament for both. Allan Border’s team edged Kapil Dev’s defending champions by one run.
Australia are heading into this showpiece on the back of a skewed record. They won five and lost five of their last 10 ODIs. Their current form is dismal. After winning the first two games of a series in South Africa in September, they were thrashed in the last three by over 100 runs in each. Five of their last six outings ended in defeats. But now they are at near full strength and hardened by those blows.
If it’s a typically Chennai pitch with some turn and low bounce, Australia will be tested. Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav form a combination which can be uncomfortable for their batters. There is plenty of runs and reputation in that line-up, but these spinners are experienced enough to exploit help from the wicket if there is any.
By carrying just one specialist spinner in Adam Zampa, Australia seemed to have taken a gamble. Nobody will take their pace trio lightly. But how they manage after them has to be seen. Glenn Maxwell’s off-spin becomes invaluable if there something on offer in the pitch. Otherwise, the Indians will look to put the spinners and all-rounders under pressure.
India won nine of the 12 ODIs at home this year. It is believed that they have found the missing pieces and looking ready to fire on all cylinders. There is some truth in this. Jasprit Bumrah appears to be peaking at the right pace. In batting, all of them have recent runs under their belt. Now, they have to deliver and remember that the three ODIs they lost at home this year were all against Australia.
Shubman Gill’s illness is something India have to cope with. New Zealand hammered England without three of their first-choice players. Such setbacks are part of long tournaments and teams capable of winning titles overcome them. These situations show how a team has nurtured its back-ups and those running the Indian team have done well on that count so far.
Potentially, bowling can be India’s trump card. There is experience, current form and a lot of variety. Other than Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj is breathing fire. These two can form a nasty new-ball pair. Hardik Pandya as third seamer is more than handy. No team has as much variety in spin as India does. And all of them are experienced bowlers. Over to them to live up to the expectations.
Time and venue details
October 8 from 14:00 IST. MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai.
Expected conditions
It should be warm and clear. The pitch is expected to be on the slower side. If that is indeed the case, Ashwin should be liking it.
Possible XIs
India: Ishan Kishan is the most likely replacement for Shubman Gill, who is recovering from a bout of dengue. Gill hasn’t been ruled out of this game yet.
Rohit Sharma (c), Ishan Kishan/Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.
Australia: With doubts over Marcus Stoinis, Cameron Green is likely to get a look-in.
David Warner, Mitch Marsh, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Adam Zampa
Match-ups
India’s new-ball bowlers against Australian top-order: Spin is expected to be the more potent weapon in Chennai. But, before the spinners, Australia have to contend with Bumrah and Siraj. Both can be menacing on their day, against any side.
Mitchell Starc against India’s batters: He is one of the most successful bowlers in World Cup history. Pace, use of angles and the ability to bowl at different stages of an innings make Starc a dangerous proposition.
Captains speak
The mood is pretty good. We have come well prepared and quite confident. Shubman Gill is not 100%. He is not fit but sick. We are monitoring him. He is still not ruled out… It will be nice to win the World Cup.
Rohit Sharma (India)
We have played more white-ball cricket in India than in Australia in the last 10 years… The home crowd is going to be noisy and one-sided. They (India) have played a lot of matches in these conditions, but with that also comes pressure.
Pat Cummins (Australia)