India vs Australia, 1st ODI Playing XI tip off: Jadeja to step in for Iyer, Shami and Siraj to lead pace attack under Pandya

Jadeja to step in for Iyer

With Shreyas Iyer ruled out of the ODI series after a recurrence of his back injury, a natural replacement has come on the scene. Ravindra Jadeja wasn’t part of the ODI series earlier this year against Sri Lanka and New Zealand but marked a comeback from a right knee injury in the Test series.

🗣️🗣️ ‘Their intensity in practice rubs onto the youngsters’ 💪

Ahead of the #INDvAUS ODI series opener, Fielding Coach T. Dilip explains how @imVkohli & @imjadeja have been role models in the field for the youngsters 👏👏#TeamIndia | @mastercardindia pic.twitter.com/4NourJOfR7

— BCCI (@BCCI) March 15, 2023

Jadeja was the joint-second leading wicket taker in the Tests, grabbing 22 scalps in the four matches. With a ODI World Cup later this year and with not many bilateral series left in the buildup to it, the team management would want to give the southpaw all-rounder much needed playing time in the format.

Shami and Siraj to lead pace unit

Jasprit Bumrah’s injury has put added weight on Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj’s shoulders as far as India’s pace attack is concerned. The duo shared a total of 21 wickets between each other in five ODIs each that they’ve played this year.

Hardik Pandya has been able to consistently bowl in regular spells for India and his presence as the captain gives the men in blue chance to play a couple more spinners in the lineup alongside Jadeja, without compromising on their batting while opting for someone like a Shardul Thakur as another handy option with the ball and the bat. Washington Sundar and one of Kuldeep Yadav or Axar Patel.

Kishan to open with Gill

Rohit Sharma will miss the first match. Ishan Kishan, who has been preferred as India’s third opener in white ball cricket over the past couple of years is likely to open alongside in-form Shubman Gill in Mumbai.

Predicted Playing XI

India: Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan (wk), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya (c), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj.

Australia: David Warner, Travis Head, Steve Smith (c), Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Mitch Marsh, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Ashton Agar, Mitch Starc, Adam Zampa

Squads

India: Rohit Sharma (c), Yuzvendra Chahal, Ishan Kishan, Ravindra Jadeja, Virat Kohli, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammad Shami, Mohammad Siraj, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Shardul Thakur, Umran Malik, Jaydev Unadkat, Washington Sundar, Suryakumar Yadav.

Australia: Steve Smith (c) Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa.