IND vs AUS: Rohit Sharma set to resume captaincy duties as India look to seal ODI series in Vizag

Rohit Sharma is set to return to lead India as they look to seal the one-day international series after going 1-0 up in Mumbai.

India will lock horns with Australia in the second ODI of the three-match series at the Dr YS Raja Reddy Stadium in Vizag on March 19.

Rohit will take over the responsibility from Hardik Pandya, who guided India to a five-wicket win at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. KL Rahul was the match-winner for India, who returned to the ODI setup after being dropped from the last two Test matches of the Border-Gavaskar series.

Rahul was ably supported by spin-bowling all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who was adjudged the Player of the Match, for picking up two wickets and remaining unbeaten on 45 and guiding India to a comfortable win.

INDIAN CHANGES

Rohit returns to the side after missing the first match in Mumbai due to prior family commitments. He is expected to come in for Ishan Kishan, who failed to impress in the first match of the series.

India might also look to bring in either Axar Patel or Washington Sundar in for Shardul Thakur, as the Vizag pitch might be more favourable for spinners. Thakur was the only Indian bowler who failed to pick up a wicket in the first match in Mumbai.

AUSTRALIAN CHANGES

As for the visitors, opening batter David Warner has returned to the squad after picking up an injury in the Test series. He could come in for pace-bowling all-rounder Marcus Stoinis, since Australia fielded three all-rounders in the first game.

Wicket-keeping batter Alex Carey, who missed the first game through illness, could also make his return and replace Josh Inglis behind the stumps. Carey struggled to score runs in the recently concluded BGT series and would be looking to prove a point in the ODI series.

KEY BATTLES

Rohit’s return to the side might help India tackle the left-arm pace of Mitchell Starc early in the innings. Starc was deadly with the new ball in the first ODI and destroyed the Indian top-order, leaving them reeling at 39/4 at one stage.

India will be expecting Suryakumar Yadav to replicate his T20I form in the 50-over format as well. The middle order batter has struggled in the ODI format, and has an average of 27.06 after playing 21 matches for India, compared to his 46.52 average in T20Is.

India’s predicted starting XI:

Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, KL Rahul (WK), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami

Australia’s predicted starting XI:

David Warner, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith (C), Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Alex Carey (WK), Cameron Green, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Sean Abott