The Indian cricket team will hope to launch its World Cup bid with a win over Australia in their tournament opener on Sunday at the MA Chidamabaram Stadium in Chepauk. The World Cup royalty, Australia, will have an obvious advantage in the head-to-head, having won 83 games to 56 losses. However, the home favourites India will be high on confidence as they recently defeated Australia in a three-match ODI series. India batter Shubman Gill, who has accumulated over 1200 runs in ODIs this year, could sit out this game due to dengue.
Ahead of the match, here are five players to watch out for:
David Warner
The 36-year-old swashbuckling opener remains key to providing a good start to his team in the big match and be a driving force for the five-time winners in what could be his last World Cup.
The left-handed batsman, who has more than 6,300 ODI runs and 20 centuries, was in good form with three half-centuries in the recent ODI series which the tourists lost 2-1 in India.
Despite constant media speculation on his retirement, Warner, on Fox Sports, said: “It’s about the team. For me, it’s about going out there and trying to put my best foot forward and playing to the best of my ability to put the team in a good position.”
Glenn Maxwell
Called “Big Show” for his explosive batting, Maxwell has been a white-ball star for the Australian team and has hit the right note on his return from an injury.
Maxwell, a middle-order batsman and an off-spinner, returned an ODI bowling best of 4-40 in the third ODI in India last month.
He also struck an impressive 77 in the team’s second warm-up against Pakistan and skipper Pat Cummins said the all-rounders are “gold” in ODI cricket.
Cummins said Maxwell also remains a “frontline spinner” alongside Adam Zampa.
Maxwell has scored 3,495 runs and claimed 64 wickets in 129 ODIs since his debut in 2012.
Virat Kohli
India will look up to “King Kohli” for a run-filled World Cup in their bid to end their title drought in major tournaments since the 2013 Champions Trophy.
Kohli was part of India’s 2011 World Cup triumph on home soil under M.S. Dhoni and has amassed 13,083 runs including 47 centuries in the 50-over format.
The former captain has a knack of scoring big under pressure and his match-winning 82 versus Pakistan in last year’s T20 World Cup stands out in recent memory.
Former Australia captain Greg Chappell, on RevSportz, said: “He wins the big matches for India. He always wants to perform in every tournament for India.”
Rohit Sharma
A white-ball star for India, Rohit, fondly called “hitman” for his ability to rack up big scores quickly, carries a billion hopes as Indian captain.
Rohit last hit an ODI century in January but has a few half-tons under his belt including an 81 in India’s last match against Australia in the lead-up to the World Cup.
Rohit understands the importance of a good start to a tournament against the mighty Australians.
“There is a reason that they have so many championships. So, for us, it will be very important that we stick to what we want to do as a team and focus on our strengths,” said Rohit.
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