Australia vs India 1st ODI: Preview and Predicted Playing XI

After outclassing the Aussies in the T20Is and the Tests, the Men in Blue will look to extend their dominance in the 50-over format, when they take on Australia in the first ODI at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney on Saturday, January 12.

Both teams have played 118 completed One Day Internationals against each other, with the Australians leading the head-to-head scoreline 73-45. Meanwhile in case of matches played at Sydney, the scoreline salutes the Australians at 15-2, with one game ending without a result.

Both nations last faced each other in this format at Sydney in January 2016. After being put in to to bat first, Australia posted a mammoth 330 runs on the board in their 50 overs, but the target was overhauled by the visitors with six wickets and two balls to spare.

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India

The Blues enjoyed their first ever Test series victory on Australian soil and will now aim to continue that dominance in this format as well. Meanwhile India's recent record in the ODI format will certainly boost their confidence even further, as they have lost just once in their last ten outings.

Batting

Skipper Virat Kohli smashed three centuries and scored 453 runs in previous ODI series against the Windies, and continued his form in the Test series, scoring 282 runs to end as the third highest run scorer. Rohit Sharma also scored 389 runs against the Windies, and will pose a major threat to the Aussie bowlers.

Except these two, the visitors will also bank on the likes of Shikhar Dhawan, who was their standout performer during Asia Cup 2018. The opener will aim to prove his worth outside the subcontinent with noteworthy performances in this series.

The middle order needs some sorting out, and India will hope that they arrive at a balanced XI at the end of the three ODIs.

Bowling

Kuldeep Yadav is the world's third-best ODI bowler, and topped the charts with nine wickets against Windies. The chinaman will look to continue his good run and choke the Aussies, while Khaleel Ahmad also picked up seven wickets in that series, and he will be expected to replicate it against Aussies.

Mohammad Shami was India's seco leading wicket taker in the Test series with 16 wickets, and in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, he will be backed by skipper to rout down the Australians batting order.

Expected Playing XI

Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli (C), Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni (W), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Khaleel Ahmed, and Mohammed Shami

Australia

Aaron Finch is set to face a tough task to end Australia's bad run in ODIs

Australia have not won an ODI series since beating Pakistan at home in January 2017. They have since played 21 completed matches, and have won just two of them.

Batting

Australia skipper Aaron Finch scored 250 runs during their previous ODI series against India, and he will be expected to replicate the same. Alex Carey, who has been in top form in the Big Bash League, and was their second best batsman against South Africa last month, will be backed by the skipper to come out with a similar performance against India.

Shaun Marsh was a big positive for the home side during the South Africa series; the left-hander scored 128 runs in two games, including a century in the first, and he is expected to pose a major threat to the Indian bowling line-up.

Bowling

Marcus Stoinis was pick of the lot against South Africa with eight wickets in three games, including 3-1 in the first fixture, and he will be expected to do the early damage, while Peter Siddle (four wickets in three games), Jhye Richardson (seven wickets in five outings) and Jason Behrendorff (eight wickets in six games) have all impressed in the Big Bash League.

Expected Playing XI

Aaron Finch (C), Alex Carey (W), Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb, Usman Khawaja, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Peter Siddle, Adam Zampa, Jhye Richardson and Jason Behrendorff.

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