India's Predicted XI for the first ODI against Australia

Middle-order: Virat Kohli, Ambati Rayudu, and Kedar Jadhav

No surprises on who will take the No.3 spot. After a phenomenal 2018, Virat Kohli will look to continue his good form. The Indian captain has played 23 One Day Internationals in Australia and scored 1001 runs at an average of 50.05. He has struck four hundreds and four fifties. However, in four ODIs at Sydney, Kohli has scored only 33 runs at an average of 11, the highest score being 21.

Ambati Rayudu was brilliant for India in the recently concluded ODI series against West Indies as he scored 217 runs in four innings at an average of 72.33. Rayudu had a good 2018 with 392 runs in 11 ODI games. The 33-year-old has played only three ODI game in Australia and scored 58 runs at an average of 19.33.

Kedar Jadhav missed the crucial part of 2018 because of hamstring injuries. He got himself injured in the inaugural game of IPL 2018 and missed the entire campaign for CSK. He played a crucial role in India’s success at the Asia Cup 2018 but injured his hamstring again in the final. Jadhav has been a vital member of the Indian ODI squad in the past couple of years. A destructive hitter in the middle-order, Jadhav is a more than useful off-spinner.