Australia and India balance preparation and rest as the World Cup strategies.

The World Cup is just around the corner, but not quite. Australia and India will kick off their campaigns on October 8 in Chennai, but first, they have three games in six days. These games will be crucial for both teams to fine-tune their plans and for several key Australian players to return to action. However, they will also need to be careful not to overexert themselves and risk last-minute injuries.

Australia’s World Cup hopes have been dealt a major blow with the news that Travis Head has fractured his hand and is likely to miss the tournament. India also has some concerns, with Axar Patel unavailable for the first two matches of this series.

India, fresh off their Asia Cup victory, will face an Australia team coming off a series defeat to South Africa. In terms of performances, form of players, and confidence, Australia has more to prove in this upcoming three-match ODI series.

Australia has struggled to field its first-choice XI in the lead-up to the World Cup, but that combination is now starting to take shape. Captain Pat Cummins, Steven Smith, and Mitchell Starc are all back in the lineup, and Glenn Maxwell is expected to arrive on Friday. Smith is likely to play all three matches, but Cummins and Maxwell may be managed more carefully.

Matt Short, who has been called up to replace Travis Head for this series, is an intriguing name to watch. A destructive opener who can also bowl good offspin, he is very much a like-for-like replacement for Head. While it would be a meteoric rise for Short to make the final World Cup squad, it is certainly a possibility.

India is coming off a successful Asia Cup campaign, and they are using this series against Australia to rest some of their big names, including Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Kuldeep Yadav, and Hardik Pandya. The main focus of this series for India is on R Ashwin and Washington Sundar, who are competing to replace Axar Patel in the World Cup squad if he is unavailable for more than two games.

This series will also give Shreyas Iyer and Suryakumar Yadav a chance to get some batting time. Iyer suffered a back spasm during the Asia Cup, while Suryakumar played just once, scoring 26 off 34 balls in the loss to Bangladesh.

Ashwin’s chance and Cummins’ return: two key storylines for the upcoming ODI series

R Ashwin has not played an ODI since January 2022, but he could be in line for a recall to the Indian team for the World Cup if Axar Patel is ruled out with injury. Ashwin’s experience and his ability to bowl in tandem with Ravindra Jadeja could be a valuable asset for India, especially against Australia, who have struggled against the two spinners in Test cricket.

Meanwhile, Australia will be boosted by the return of Pat Cummins, who missed the recent ODI series against South Africa. Cummins is one of the best bowlers in the world, and his return will give Australia a much-needed boost ahead of the World Cup.

Pat Cummins, who was appointed Australia’s ODI captain last November, will lead the team in this upcoming series against India after recovering from a wrist injury sustained in the final Ashes Test. Cummins’ return will strengthen a pace attack that was put under pressure in South Africa, but it could also create a selection dilemma for the Aussies, as they may only want to field two frontline quicks in some matches.

Team news: Ashwin vs. Washington and Smith’s return

With Hardik Pandya rested, there is a chance that all three spin-bowling all-rounders – Ashwin, Washington Sundar, and Jadeja – could play in the first ODI against Australia. The selectors may also consider giving Mohammed Siraj a break after his impressive performances in the Asia Cup. Ishan Kishan will have the opportunity to open alongside Shubman Gill, who is in good form.

India’s possible playing XI for the first ODI against Australia

India’s possible playing XI for the first ODI against Australia is as follows:

• Batsmen: Ishan Kishan, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, KL Rahul (captain, wicketkeeper)
• All-rounders: Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, R Ashwin
• Bowlers: Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj/Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah

This XI includes all three spin-bowling all-rounders, as well as Ishan Kishan as an opener alongside Shubman Gill. Mohammed Siraj is likely to be rested after his impressive performances in the Asia Cup, with Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah leading the pace attack.

Australia’s possible playing XI for the first ODI against India

Australia’s possible playing XI for the first ODI against India is as follows:

• Batsmen: David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne
• Wicketkeeper: Alex Carey
• All-rounders: Cameron Green, Marcus Stoinis
• Bowlers: Pat Cummins (captain), Spencer Johnson/Tanveer Sangha, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

This XI includes all of Australia’s key players, including David Warner, Steven Smith, and Marnus Labuschagne in the batting order, and Pat Cummins, Adam Zampa, and Josh Hazlewood in the bowling attack. The two main selection dilemmas for Australia are whether to play Spencer Johnson or Tanveer Sangha as the second spinner, and whether to play Cameron Green or Marcus Stoinis in the all-rounder spot.

Pitch and conditions

Despite being early in the Indian season, Pat Cummins does not expect the pitch at Mohali to be significantly affected. This is the first ODI to be played at the venue in four years, but it has produced some high scores in the IPL. The forecast is for a hot, dry day.