It is a battle of two gladiators at Nagpur as India and Australia prepares to take the yard in what is going to be the curtain-raiser for a mouth-watering series. Both the teams are currently occupying the top two spots of the WTC and will be hoping to bring out their very best in order to decide the fate of the cricketing extravaganza slated to be played at the Oval, later in the year.
India will be coming to this fixture of a back of a triumphant conquest of their neighbours, thanks to a 2-0 victory, the first of which was an easy sailing, the second being a tough outing with a late twist in the tail.
Australia, on the contrary, will be venturing into India on the back of a series win against South Africa even though there were brief moments of fear seeping into the hosts when the Proteas managed to put up a staunch showdown.
India will be banking on spin as their turning department will be led by an experienced Ravichandran Ashwin who will most likely be joined by Ravindra Jadeja and a pick between Kuldeep and Axar. Australia will definitely be bringing forward the likes of Nathan Lyon to lead the charge who in all possibilities will be aided by the likes of Ashton Agar and Mitchell Swepson.
India will be without their primary fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah wherein Australia is already depleted of two of their main bowlers in the fast-bowling department with Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood being ruled out with injuries. Cameron Green may be deployed for his batting and razor-sharp fielding but he will also not be able to roll his arms due to a finger injury.
The two sides will be heavily relying on their batting unit to deliver the payload considering the presence of two of the world’s fab four in their ranks, namely Virat Kohli and Steven Smith. India will be desperate to plug the gap left behind by Rishabh Pant with a roaring KS Bharat but only time shall reveal how India goes around in this department.
