Australia vs India 2020, 1st ODI - Australia Predicted Playing XI

Australia will be looking to hit the ground running when they start their home season with the ODI series against India on Friday (November 26). The great rivals will be up against each other for the next couple of months, locking horns in the ODIs followed by a three-match T20I  series and a much-anticipated four-match Border-Gavaskar series.

Revenge will be on Australia’s mind too after losing the ODI series to the Men in Blue earlier this year. Aaron Finch & Co. had travelled to India earlier this year for a three-match ODI series and had lost 2-1. India had also won the last ODI series between the two nations on Australian soil when they had toured Down Under in the 2018/19 season.

Things have changed a lot since the last series between the two sides in Australia as the likes of David Warner and Steve Smith have returned for the hosts after serving the fan. The meteoric rise of Marnus Labuschagne further makes the five-time world champions a formidable outfit. The home side would definitely love to start the home season with a win and so here we are taking a look at the eleven players who are likely to take the field in the first ODI.

Here is Australia’s predicted XI:

Openers: David Warner, Aaron Finch

At the top, Australia will have the formidable pair of David Warner and Aaron Finch. Warner is in good form at the moment. The southpaw had a brilliant IPL 2020 as he finished the competition as the third-highest run-scorer with 548 runs. The Australia open would be looking to continue the same form against the visitors.

Finch, on the other hand, had struggled in the IPL, scoring a modest 268 runs in 12 games. The Australia captain is known for leading from the front and would be hoping that he rediscovers his best form in the national colours.

Middle-order: Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Alex Carey

The home side’s middle-order has a formidable look with the likes of Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell and Alex Carey. Smith and Labuschagne had impressed against India earlier this year and the hosts would be relying on them to provide the solidity in the middle-order. The onus of scoring the quick runs will be on Glenn Maxwell and Alex Carey.

Maxwell had a disastrous outing in IPL 2020 where he scored only 108 runs in 13 games. The explosive batsman would be desperate to prove his worth again. Carey, on the other hand, struggled to get game time in IPL and played only 3 matches.

Allrounder: Marcus Stoinis

Marcus Stoinis will be one of the players to watch out for after a sensational outing in IPL 2020 where he impressed with his all-round skills. The all-rounder scored 352 runs and picked up 13 wickets, helping Delhi Capitals make it to the IPL final for the very first time. Australia would be hoping that he continues in the same manner against India.

Bowlers: Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Adam Zampa

The bowling lineup is likely to have three pacers – Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood – and one spinner in the form of Adam Zampa. Cummins had a poor outing in IPL and would be hoping to rediscover his best form in the familiar conditions. Starc, on the other hand, looked good in the two Shield games he played where he picked 9 wickets.

As far as Hazlewood and Zampa are concerned, they would be eyeing to prove themselves after failing to get too many chances in IPL 2020. Both the players played just three games each in the tournament.