One of the biggest away assignments in international cricket awaits Virat Kohli’s men as Team India looks forward to kickstarting their full-fledged tour to Australia with the upcoming limited over series. After a gruelling Indian Premier League (IPL) season 13 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), players representing the Indian contingent are set to return on the international circuit with the three-match One Day International (ODI) series against hosts Australia.
Dubbed as one of the most highly-anticipated tours amid the coronavirus crisis, India’s 2020-2021 white-ball series against hosts Australia will be contested in front of a sell-out crowd for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic made its presence earlier this year. Team India will play three One Day Internationals (ODIs), as many T20 Internationals, and four Test matches against the Men from Down Under.
The high-profile India-Australia series will begin on Friday (November 27) with the first ODI at the famous Sydney Cricket Ground. As Kohli’s men are all set to embark on a new chapter of the India-Australia rivalry with their upcoming tour Down Under, here’s a quick look at five superstars who will be key in India’s quest for another series triumph on Australian soil.
(All photos: IANS)
1) Virat Kohli
With limited-overs vice-captain Rohit Sharma being rested for the white-ball series, skipper Kohli will once again be India’s go-to-man against the mighty Aussies. Widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen to play the gentlemen’s game in the modern era, Kohli is ranked third in the list of Indian batsmen with the most runs scored against Australia. Kohli has amassed 1910 runs in 40 ODIs and the charismatic leader of the Men In Blue is only behind Rohit (2208) and Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar (3077) in the elite list. Kohli is second in the list of Indian batsmen with most centuries against Australia. Kohli has slammed eight centuries against the Aussies and the Indian skipper is one short of equalling Tendulkar’s record tally of nine versus Australia.
2) KL Rahul
Versatile batsman KL Rahul has been roped in as India’s vice-captain in the absence of star opener Rohit. The swashbuckling batsman also kept the wickets for his side in a practice match in Sydney on Sunday. This also signifies that Rahul is tipped to don several hats in the upcoming series against the Aaron Finch-led side. The stylish batsman is coming to the Australia series after a memorable Indian Premier League (IPL) season with the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP). Rahul finished the IPL 2020 as the leading run-scorer (670) by bagging the prestigious Orange Cap in the 13th edition of the cash-rich league.
3) Yuzvendra Chahal
Spin wizard Yuzvendra Chahal is a proven match-winner when it comes to playing white-ball cricket. Besides emerging as the wrecker-in-chief for the Kohli-led side, Chahal has impressed everyone with his consistency in taking wickets on regular intervals. Chahal had a fruitful IPL 2020 season with Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) as the ace spinner plucked 21 wickets in 15 matches. Chahal has played only seven ODIs against Australia and the spinner has 15 wickets to his name. During the 2018-19 tour of Australia, Chahal bowled the matchwinning spell (6 for 42 in 10 overs) in the 3rd ODI which still stands as his career-best figures.
4) Mohammed Shami
He finished the 2019 season as India’s most successful bowler and legendary Sunil Gavaskar expects him to unnerve Australian batsmen with his bouncer barrage. Mohammed Shami is expected to terrorize the opposition batsmen with his raw pace and the speed merchant also has the knack of taking prized wickets across all formats of the gentlemen’s game. In terms of active international cricketers, Shami is the third-highest wicket-taker for India against the Aussies in ODIs. Shami has taken 25 wickets in 17 ODI matches that he played against the Men from Down Under. Shami is yet to record a five-wicket haul as his career-best figures against Australia reads 4 for 63 in 10 overs.
5) Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah was not part of the 2018-19 ODI series between India and Australia. However, the speed merchant was the wrecker-in-chief during the entire four-match Test series between the two sides two years ago. The Indian pacer will be spearheading India’s pace bowling attack against the Aussies in the three-match ODI series.
