India is all set to face off against their modern rivals Australia in a three-match ODI series starting Tuesday. The series, which is being called as the battle of equals, is expected to produce a nail-biting encounter. India, who have been almost unbeatable at home, will look to extend their winning streak against the Aussies but with the likes of Steve Smith and David Warner, it will not be an easy task.
India will be without Bhuvneshwar and Deepak Chahar but the return of Jasprit Bumrah will give them a huge boost. Rohit Sharma, who has enjoyed a great success against Australia, will be the key at the top order. KL Rahul has been in red hot form for India in shorter formats but with the inclusion of Shikhar Dhawan, it will be interesting to see if the Karnataka batsman will open alongside Rohit or not. Another problem will be of deciding whether or not to play Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal together.
Australia, on the other hand, will be looking extend their good record in ODIs in India. They will recall good memories on return to India as last time around they defeated India 3-2 to win the series. All eyes will be on the debutant Marnus Labuschagne, who will be looking to transfer his stellar Test form into the one-day format.
Let’s look at some of the stats ahead of the much-awaited ODI series:
- 59.69- Indian team’s top-order’s batting average in the last two years in ODIs.
- 73.90- This is Australia’s average opening stand against India on their home soil in ODIs, which is the best for any team against the ‘Men in Blue’ in India since 2015.
- 56- Runs Rohit Sharma needs to complete 9,000 runs in ODIs.
- 76.83- Rohit Sharma’s average against Australia in ODIs since 2013. The Indian opener has amassed 1844 runs from 27 innings with seven centuries and seven fifties against Australia.
- 7- More sixes Rohit Sharma needs to become the second batsman to hit 100-plus sixes against a team in ODIs. Chris Gayle holds the record with 130 sixes against England.
- 100+ – Warner and Aaron Finch need to add one 100+ stand to become the second most successful opening pair for Australia in ODIs.
- 64.56- Average of Australian opening partnership in India since October 2013.
- 100- Virat Kohli needs to score one more century to have the joint most centuries as captain in ODIs. He will also have the joint-most centuries in a country against an opposition, Joint 2nd most 100s in international cricket and most international hundreds for any captain. Well, one might say that’s a lot of record to set but for Kohli, it’s just another day.
