IND vs AUS: 5 players to watch out for in ODI series

After securing the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the Indian team will now be gunning to bag the ODI series against Australia, which is slated to begin on March 17 at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Skipper Pat Cummins will miss after his mother passed away during the fourth Test of the series. In his absence, Steve Smith will be leading the side. While many Aussie cricketers will be seen making their return to ODIs after injury.

With the ODI World Cup set to begin in a few months, the three-match series will be important for both teams. With Shreyas Iyer ruled out of the series due to back pain, India will now have to find a proper replacement for the cricketer while the will also have to keep an eye on KL Rahul, who is currently in poor form.

When it comes to Australia, most of the cricketers have played a lot of cricket in India but yet, the more they play, the better they will get adjusted to the conditions. Also, the team management will be eager to asses players like David Warner, Mitch Marsh and Glenn Maxwell. These players will be making their return after their respective injuries.

So overall, who are the five players to look forward to in the ODI series? Let’s find out:

5. Travis Head

Travis Head was sensational in the recently concluded Test series. The stumper-batter is known for his aggressive batting and thus, the bowlers will need to stop his carnage. He will be seen opening the batting and thus, can score some quick runs in the powerplay.

4. KL Rahul

KL Rahul’s form is a huge matter of concern for the Indian team. The 30-year-old was dropped from the final two Test matches of the series and if he fails to prove himself in the ODI series as well, the cricketer may very well get dropped from the team. However, he was in good form in the last ODI series against Sri Lanka and that should give him some confidence. However, with players like Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson waiting in the wings, it’s high time Rahul steps up his game.

3. Kuldeep Yadav

In the ODI series against New Zealand, Kuldeep was at his very best, picking up six wickets in three matches. Courtesy of which, it is expected that the left-arm spinner will feature in the playing XI. Now, this is the perfect opportunity for the 28-year-old to play as per expectations and finalise his position ahead of the World Cup.

2. Cameron Green

Youngster Cameron Green was brilliant in the fourth and final Test against India, scoring his maiden century. He was also brilliant in the T20I series against India last year and thus, the all-rounder has enough experience in dealing with Indian bowlers. His aggressive brand of cricket can take the game away from India at any moment. Thus, the Rohit Sharma-led side should be careful in dealing with him.

1. Shubman Gill

Shubman Gill is the future of Indian cricket. He is playing some brilliant cricket currently and recently scored a double century against New Zealand in Hyderabad. Overall, he has played 21 matches so far in the 50-overs format, scoring 1254 runs at an average of 73.76. Thus, he is one of the players to look out for in the upcoming series.