The Indian Cricket Team will face Australia in the first One-day International match to be played at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on 17 March 2023. Hardik Pandya will captain Team India as Rohit Sharma would miss the first match of the series due to personal reasons.
Stand-in captain Hardik Pandya confirmed that Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill will open for India in the first One-day international. Gill has been in sensational form of late with brilliant performances during the home ODI series against Sri Lanka and New Zealand.
“(There’s) no timeline, we have to hope for the best to wish him a speedy recovery. I have been in that situation where back could be a problem… We will miss him but we have to find solutions if he isn’t around. If he is, he is of course welcome,” said Hardik Pandya India’s stand-in captain for the first ODI in Mumbai. “There’s a lot of time to think about how we can go forward.
“Ishan and Shubman will be opening. The wicket looks how it is throughout the year. I have played here for almost seven years and it is one of the finest grounds I have played on. It’s going to be challenging since this wicket will give equal opportunities to both sides,” Pandya said.
Shubman Gill has been in sensational form with a brilliant double century against New Zealand and hoping to cement his place with another superb performance in the first ODI match. On other hand, Ishan Kishan missed the opportunity with a string of low scores in the ODI series against the Kiwis. Both Gill and Ishan Kishan would be hoping to give a flying start to the Indian team during the first ODI match on what could be an ideal pitch to bat on.
Gill was named the player of the series award in the ODI series against New Zealand. His ability to change momentum with aggressive hitting makes him a dangerous batter to bowl at.
Team India progress into the final of the WTC
The Indian team progressed to the 2021/23 World Test Championship finals as New Zealand defeated Sri Lanka on the last ball at Christchurch while the fourth Test match between India and Australia at Ahmedabad ended in a tame draw.
“No. I am an ethically very strong person. I haven’t done 10% to reach there. I am not even a part of the 1%. So, me coming there and taking someone’s place will ethically not go well. If I want to play Test cricket, I’ll go through the grind and earn my spot. Hence, for that reason I will not be available for the WTC final or future Test series until I feel that I have earned my spot,” Hardik Pandya said.
The Indian Team would be hoping to bring silverware this time as they made it into the first edition of the WTC finals as they lost to New Zealand in the 2019/21 WTC finals.
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