India set for WACA challenge

MSD & Co. renew fierce rivalry against Aussies

India will look to get their combination right as they renew their fierce rivalry against a confident Australia in the first of the five-match ODI series starting in Perth on Tuesday, marking the onset of a long limited-overs schedule stretching until the World T20.

The T20 games will be played after the five ODIs, and Dhoni’s boys would like to carry the momentum in the shortest format.

Skipper Dhoni will want to turn the tables in the New Year but will rue the fact that one of his best pace weapons, Mohammed Shami, has been ruled out due to a hamstring injury even before the first ball has been bowled.

But there are certain aspects that might also relieve Dhoni. The fact that David Warner may not be available for a better part of the series and with Mitchell Starc or the now retired Mitchell Johnson not there, the Aussie bowling attack comprising Josh Hazlewood, Joel Paris, Scott Boland and Jimmy Faulkner looks thin on experience.

Experienced spin-bowling all-rounders R. Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja will complete the five-pronged bowling attack for India alongside the three seamers. The batting unit looks more or less settled with Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan opening, followed by Virat Kohli at no. 3. Ajinkya Rahane is expected at no. 4 and one might find the India captain batting at no. 5.

In the middle-order, the no. 6 slot will see a new face — either Manish Pandey or Gurkeerat Singh.