Players to watch out for in the Australia v India series

India will start their campaign in 2016 with the 1st ODI against Australia tomorrow at the WACA in Perth. The Men in Blue have a stiff task ahead as they lock horns with the world champs in their own backyard. Though India has been a better-limited overs team even on overseas tours but 2015 was particularly a forgetful season in ODIs and T20Is. They have added a few new names in the unit and so has Australia. Both the teams will be eager to win the series and establish supremacy over the other before they meet in the World T20 in India. There is firepower and star attractions in both the sides and here are the players to watch out for. 1. MS Dhoni: Ravi Shastri. (© PUNIT PARANJPE/AFP/Getty Images) MS Dhoni has had a calm demeanour as captain with some great achievements in world cricket. But 2015 didn’t go quite satisfactory for him. Despite India’s strong show in the World Cup, they failed to register a single series win last year. Finally after a good 2 months break and some domestic stint where Dhoni seems to have regained his lost touch, he begins 2016 with the limited overs tour down under. He showed glimpses of being in his comfort zone during the first warm up game and would be craving to replicate his batting form in the ODI series. A series win against the young Aussie side seems utterly probable and Dhoni would also like to rub out the dismal memories of the tri-series down under last year. 2. Steve Smith: Steve Smith of Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor – CA/Cricket Australia/Getty Images) If someone had proved to be a nightmare for the Indian bowlers during the last tour, it was the current Aussie captain. Steve Smith tormented the Indian bowlers throughout the Test series and his hit century in the World Cup semis that knocked India out. Also in a prime phase of his career, the No.1 Test batsman would be peering to cut loose and show his hunger for big scores in the limited overs formats as well. As a captain, he has displayed willingness to shoulder responsibility and also looked to dominate over the opposition. Counting on his great show recently, Smith would be willing to evolve himself as a captain with India considered as a tough opponent in this format. 2. Virat Kohli: Virat Kohli. (© Hindustan Times via Getty Images) The heart of the Indian batting lineup, Virat Kohli might not have had the best of 2015 according to his own standards. As a captain in the Test format, he has tasted phenomenal success, but as a batsman his form kept oscillating throughout the year especially in the shorter formats. As India begin their first assignment of 2016 down under, he will be aspiring to top the batting charts like he has done in recent years bemusing everyone’s audacity. With no burden of captaincy on his shoulders, the pressure will surely ease off on him to perform. Also with some great memories of the Test Series here in 2014-15, Virat Kohli would be raring to depict that performance again, this time in the ODI format. 4. David Warner: David Warner. (© Getty Images) One of the most explosive openers in the format, David Warner has some great potential. The talented, brash and no-nonsense guy just displays the typical Aussie personality in him. He has burst into the international scene and has proved to be successful for Australia across all formats. During the last series against India, he performed exceptionally well and would be looking to repeat the performances and do even better. The IPL exposure would surely help him in combating the Indian pacers and Warner would be up for the challenge. He would absolutely not mind having a verbal go at the tourists with some sledging as well. 5. Ajinkya Rahane: Ajinkya Rahane. (Photo Source: BCCI) The gift of timing to perfection has been key for Rahane’s emergence in all the three formats. The way he has adapted himself to all formats is praiseworthy. Along with being consistent, his calm approach is also quite admirable. After having stamped his authority as a limited overs batsman in the recently concluded South African series, Rahane would be looking to continue from where he left as he heads to the Australian tour. With the tracks offering pace and bounce down under, he would be yearning to seize the moment while displaying his stroke playing abilities. 6. Glenn Maxwell: Glenn Maxwell. (© Getty Images) ‘Big Show’ as he’s called by his teammates has been one of the greatest hitters in world cricket in the limited overs format. The star all-rounder has proved to be a valuable asset in the T20 format and also in the ODIs as of late. His off spinning abilities can also be handy for the Poms as he can strike a breakthrough out of nowhere. Maxwell would be eager to keep some kind of form going throughout this summer against the Men in Blue. He has had some enthralling contests with India’s spin ace Ashwin in the past. But with Ashwin at his best this time, he would certainly be a tougher bowler for Maxwell to handle. 7. Ravichandran Ashwin: Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin. (Photo by Ishara S.KODIKARA/AFP/Getty Images) Undoubtedly in the form of his life, Ashwin performed magnificently well last year. Every variations and fluctuations he has tried, has glittered as gold. Currently the No.1 bowler in Tests and No.10 in ODIs, Ashwin will be raring to spin a web on the Australian top order. Often having been criticised for his overseas performance, the offie stands a perfect chance of giving a befitting reply to all his detractors. His splendid show in the World Cup here would also inspire him confidence. With Dhoni’s strength coming alive when the spinners bowl in tandem, Ashwin will be his main warrior as India get their hands on the Aussie batting lineup. 8. Josh Hazlewood: Josh Hazlewood. (© Getty Images) In the absence of the stalwarts Mitchell Starc and Johnson, Josh Hazlewood is expected to lead the Australian pace attack. Having shown tremendous composure in the recent Test series, Hazlewood will pose a big threat to the visitors down under. Due to his height, he has the capability of bowling at some awkward pace and trouble the batsmen especially on bouncy tracks. He has been getting wickets consistently for Australia and Indian batsmen would be wary of his calibre. He would be keen to continue with the momentum and wreck the strong Indian top order.

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Players to watch out for in the Australia v India series

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