India vs Australia: 5 Players Battle to Watch Out For

Being an opener requires a real stint and courage as you have to face the pace guns. Here we are talking about The Hitman of India Rohit Sharma and Australia’s lethal Mitchell Starc. Both the stars will face each other on the back respective stellar performances in their last games. Rohit Sharma scored an unbeaten 122 to guide India to a direct six-wicket win against South Africa.  On the other hand, playing his 77th ODI, Starc picked up figures of 5-44 against West Indies to become the fastest bowler ever to bag 150 wickets, one match quicker than Pakistan’s Saqlain Mushtaq.

The Indian opener has had his issues against left-arm pacers in the past. He doesn’t quite play them with the same manner that he does other bowlers. Aaron Finch will handle the new delivery to his side’s best bowler to strike Rohit Sharma early.

One of the best batsmen in the world vs the spearheaded bowler around the globe!  Though Virat Kohli, lost his wicket at meager 18 against South Africa the skipper averages 53 against Australia. The captain himself has responsibility to score maximum runs and keep the scoreboard ticking. Virat is expected to continue scoring with the same consistency that has defined his performance in recent years but he will have a formidable opponent. His name is Nathan Coulter Nile.

We have seen Nathan Coulter Nile hitting four massive sixes and eight boundaries against West Indies with an individual score of 90 in 60 balls. But this time his bowl can do the talk. With Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, he is the third pace gun Australia can rely on. He will be shouldered with the responsibility of taking wickets in the middle overs and stop Kohli from making ‘Virat’ runs on the board. Things don’t look good for Virat as Coulter Nile has dismissed him thrice in ODIs.

Whom do you remember when you see Adam Zampa? Shane Warne? Isn’t it? Shane Warne’s stance and the spin are imitated by Australia’s new leg spinner Adam Zampa.  Adam Zampa is the lone hope of Australia in spin department. He will be handled a responsibility to keep India in control and restrict MS Dhoni from scoring big hits.

On the other hand, MS Dhoni who bats at number six will look to score some maximum on Zampa’s delivery. The former captain of India, MS Dhoni is considered as one of the best finishers in the world. Here he will be tested by Zampa. Do you know, Zampa has claimed Dhoni’s wicket twice in ODI.

Do you need an introduction about these players? One does the talk with his bat and other swings the ball with a fiery pace. David Warner and Jasprit Bumrah, both players had a staggering season of IPL and they will surely look to continue with their form in the World Cup.

The Australian left-handed opener, David Warner will ply his trade against the best pacer in ODI cricket – Jasprit Bumrah. It will be cracker of contest to watch. Bumrah hasn’t dismissed Warner yet in ODIs and will look change that specific number after the end of this match.

Steve Smith has been in the hot-topic for all the reasons ever since the Sandpaper saga scandal in South Africa in 2018. But the former captain of Australia is back with a bang. Despite boos and backlashes from the crowd in the practice game, Steve Smith scored a ton against England.  In the first match of Australia’s segment of the world cup Smith played a match winning innings of 73 against West Indies.

Against India, he will look to keep the same form but wait a minute. A leg-spinner in the name Yuzvendra Chahal will be waiting in Southampton. Smith has to face leggie Yuzvendra Chahal, who himself is coming into the battle on the back of a four wickets display against the Proteas. Smith has played 37 deliveries from Chahal and has managed to score just 20 runs.