🏏Australia tour of India: 1st ODI at Mohali on 22/09/2023 D/N🏏 - Page 3

Pitch report by Murali Karthik and Brad Haddin: Mohali is a high-scoring ground, it’s going to be no different this time. Apart from hitting boundaries, it will also be important to find runs in the deep pockets. Team winning the toss will want to chase. It’s quite hard, very consistent and skiddy bounce. Batters who get into a good rhythm will enjoy batting here.

Akash Chopra on broadcast just mentioned that Siraj hasn't bowled at all in the warm-up, while Mo Shami has been bowling quite a bit. Similarly, R Ashwin seems to be bowling quite a bit while Washington Sundar hasn't stretched his arms out much.

For Australia, this is pretty much the perfect practice for an Indian World Cup. Three games in three very different kinds of pitches and conditions that will give a hang of what to expect for the next month and a half. The problem for them is half their squad has been at a doctors waiting room in the last month, and some have probably still not attained full fitness. Therefore, finding the right balance between giving their players game time and avoiding further injuries will be critical, particularly with talismanic fast bowlers who are falling like flies so close to the World Cup. They were shocked by South Africa who came from being two games down to win a series 3-2, so theyd be looking to make some amends with a much more experienced bowling line-up this time around. It's a sultry afternoon in Mohali which has generally produced some pristine batting decks. Let's see what today has to offer...

A couple of weeks back, news broke out that selection to the Indian football team was being made after consulting an astrologer. Wonder if the BCCI has been taking a leaf out of that book because the squad for this India Australia series has sprung up a few surprises, as most of the regulars have been rested for the first two games. Nevertheless, it has brightened the fortunes of the likes of Ravi Ashwin and Washington Sundar who suddenly find themselves in the fray for a World Cup spot after being largely out in the wilderness. With just three games left for experiments, this is the final dress rehearsal for not only the Tamil Nadu duo, but also the likes of Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma who are all in a potential straight shoot out for that elusive number 4 spot.

Teja: "The empty stands are a concern for me l, that too on a friday afternoon for Ind vs Aus in build up to WC."

Saurabh: "Why have we suddenly selected Gaikwad and not Washi. Strange selection. Unless they wanted Kishan to only bat in the middle order to get more practice" Suspect you might be right re Kishan, Saurabh.

Aziz: "Without Hardik, there is imbalance in the team with only 5 guys to bowl. On the other hand Aus (and all other teams) have lots of allrounders! I struggle to see India taking the WC with this approach." Australia had trouble with their 4th and 5th bowler though in South Africa despite playing the deeper batting. It's a tough balancing act.

Hello, everyone. It feels like barely hours have passed since India lifted the Asia Cup by bowling Sri Lanka out for 50, and Australia were beaten 3-2 by South Africa. But it is what it is: cricket has become like an unstoppable cycle, one which has no brakes in it.

Thank you Raji for the thread and tagging me.

Now, this is the real test for the batters and bowlers, very interesting.

Thanks for the tag, Raji!

Pitch report from Aakash Chopra: "Pitch is flat, true to reputation, the grass is only to bind the pitch. So it will be a challenge for the quicks. The ball should come on to the bat well, and the batters should have fun. Shouldn't expect dew

Panauti Akash Chopra is there😂

Ashwin's rich experience—151 wickets in 113 ODIs@33.49, the presence of dangerous left-handers in almost every opposition and the likelihood of wickets which aid spin during India's World Cup matches in the 2023 ODI World Cup—all indicate there may be a place for him after all