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As we gear up for another year of cricket, Team India prepares for its first battle of 2016 with the tour Down Under. India embarks on a three match One-Day International (ODI) against World Champions Australia, who are looking in ominous form coming from Test series wins vs New Zealand and West Indies later ending last week. India who landed in Australia on January 6 has played two warm-up matches against Western Australia XI (WA XI); one T20 and one 50-over game. Vishal Mehra going by the recent performances in the two matches’ and precluding series against South Africa (SA) predicts his likely XI for Team India for the first ODI against Australia at WACA starting on Tuesday. FULL SCORECARD: Australia vs India, 1st ODI at Perth
Top Order: India’s opening partnership more or less settled with Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma taking responsibilities against the new ball attack of Australians. Rohit Sharma coming into the series had a good outing against the South Africans at home scoring 255 runs in five matches. Rohit also had field day with the bat against WA XI in the one off 50-over game scoring crucial 67 runs. Dhawan on the other hand who is struggling with form will find solace scoring 74 runs against WA XI in T20 match. Prior to this feat his form has been in question as his scores were not up his normal standards. The only thing that will go in his favour his last outing in Australia in the ICC World Cup 2015 was decent as he scored a match winning 137 against SA. Virat Kohli has now made the No.3 position his own, had a remarkable ODI series against SA amassing 245 at a near fifty average of 49.00. Kohli will be weary of the fact that his record against Australia in their den is a horrifyingly bad with only 95 runs at an average of 15.83 in seven matches. ALSO READ: India’s warm-up match wins of no relevance going into Australia series
Middle Order: Ajinkya Rahane has slowly built up a reputation of being the most dependable batsmen in the Indian side lately with his consistent demonstration with the bat. Rahane was the top-scorer in the ODI series against South Africa making 326 runs at 54.33 bettering his career average of 32.53. Even in the three matches he has played against Australia at home he average’s 42.00, which will only mean given his rise in batting prowess will go rising in the series. Manish Pandey who has only played one ODI for India against Zimbabwe scored his career of 71 before he was neglected. He will only feel more confidence after scoring 59 balls 58 against WA XI on Saturday, which holds fine as he will keenly fight for a place in the XI with Gurkeerat Singh Mann sitting on the bench. MS Dhoni who is regarded as one of the world’s best finisher will look to carry his bat with more free will and express himself as he is known for. Off late Dhoni has suggested that he might want to come up the order given the fact that there is a scarcity of finisher, he just might hold on to No.6 for the time being. ALSO READ: Mohammed Shami’s absence will significantly hurt India’s scope in Australia
Lower Middle Order: Ravindra Jadeja who is making a comeback of sorts in the team after June 2015, will look to now cement his place once and for all. Jadeja had an awful experience the last time he step foot on Australian soil, managing only 62 runs in eight matches. With the ball his records show no difference picking eight wickets in as many matches at an abysmal strike rate of 44.6, given his form in the two warm matches picking 4 wickets will feel high spirited. Ravinchandran Ashwin has had a brilliant last year with the ball picking 21 wickets in 13 matches at a splendid average of 24.57. Last year in Australia, Ashwin picked 11 wickets in seven matches. His batting is always an added on trait to go with his bowling. Next in are the fast bowling trio of Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma and debutant Barinder Sran. Ishant Sharma will look to spearhead the Indian attack as the most played member among the three. Yadav who had picked up 18 wickets in the ICC World Cup in 2015 in Australia will look to continue his superior bowling form. Barinder Sran, who in all likelihood will make his debut of India, will only be happy with his outings against WA XI picking up two wickets in T20 match.
India Likely XI (In batting order): Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Manish Pandey, MS Dhoni(C)(WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravinchandran Ashwin, Ishant Sharma,Umesh Yadav, Barinder Sran