The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced that KL Rahul will lead the Indian cricket team in the first two one-day internationals against Australia, while regular captain Rohit Sharma will return for the final game.
The Indian team has rested several of its regular players for the first two games, including Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, and Kuldeep Yadav. The reason is perhaps taken to test the depth of the team just before the World Cup 2023.
The squad for the final match will be the one that will be part of India’s World Cup campaign on home soil, with the addition of Ravichandran Ashwin and Washington Sundar, who will be available for all three games.
In December 2021, Rohit Sharma was appointed as the new ODI captain of the Indian cricket team, replacing Kohli ahead of their away series against South Africa.
Under Rohit’s captaincy, India has performed well, including whitewashing New Zealand at home in the T20I series 3-0. The Indian team will be looking to continue their good form in the upcoming series against Australia.
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Ravichandran Ashwin Included in the Squad
Ravichandran Ashwin has not played in one-day internationals since January 2022 and was left out of the provisional ODI World Cup 2023 squad announced earlier this month.
It was speculated that Ashwin might get a chance in India’s World Cup squad as a backup spinner. Rohit Sharma, earlier talking to media, said that Ravichandran Ashwin is on radar, it was just matter of time and need that will decide who gets the chance.
However, Ashwin has been included in the squad for the final ODI against Australia, which will be played on September 27 in Rajkot, just 8 before the beginning of the World Cup 2023. Axar Patel, who missed the Asia Cup final due to a quadriceps strain, has also been named in the squad for the final ODI, but his participation is subject to fitness.
The three ODIs against Australia, which will be played between September 22-27 in Mohali, Indore, and Rajkot, will serve as a tune-up for the 50-over World Cup, which begins on October 5. Australia will have their some players back in the team for this important series that can set the tone of their journey to World Cup on Indian soil.
Ashwin is one of the best off-spinners Test cricket has ever seen, and his inclusion in the squad for the final ODI is a boost for the Indian team. It can be seen as a chance for Ashwin to make an impressive mark just before the World Cup in case the opportunity arises.
Axar Patel has been consistent with his bowling, and his inclusion in the squad is also a positive sign for the Indian team. However, it is not certain how many days it will take for him to get fully recovered. In crucial games like that of a World Cup, an apex level of mental and physical fitness is required for the players.
The Indian team will be looking to fine-tune their skills and strategies in the upcoming ODI series against Australia before the World Cup.
Indian Team for first two ODIs against Australia
KL Rahul (captain), Ravindra Jadeja, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan , Shardul Thakur, Washington Sundar, R Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna
Indian Squad for last ODI against Australia
Rohit Sharma (captain), Hardik Pandya, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, R Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj
