IND v AUS 2023: COC Predicted Team India playing XI for the first ODI in Mumbai

Hardik Pandya will captain India in ODIs for the first time in the opening encounter in Mumbai.

After an exciting four-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy series between India and Australia, the focus now shifts to the ODI series which will get underway with the first match in Mumbai on March 17, 2023.

With 2023 being the ODI World Cup year, both India and Australia will be looking forward to much-needed exposure to the 50-over format and for the Steve Smith-led side more so, who want as many games as they can in India.

Keeping this in mind, here is the Team COC predicted Team India playing XI for the first ODI.

Rohit Sharma will not be playing in this first ODI of the three-match series due to personal reasons and Hardik Pandya will be captaining the side in his stead. This means Shubman Gill will need a new opening partner.

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And this might mean India fielding two ODI double-centurions in Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan as openers in the first ODI. Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, and KL Rahul will be helming the middle order with Rahul expected to take the keeping gloves.

Hardik Pandya, the ODI vice-captain and the skipper for this match along with Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur is expected to form the lower middle order. Given that the match is being played in Mumbai, a third spinner might not be needed and along with Jadeja, expect Kuldeep Yadav to be part of the Indian spin attack.  

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As for the pace attack, Mohammad Shami and Mohammed Siraj are expected to be the first-choice picks, but the Indian team management might want to give a chance to Umran Malik as well, given that he brings the X-factor of extreme pace.

COC Predicted Team India playing XI:

Ishan Kishan, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, KL Rahul (WK), Hardik Pandya (C), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammad Shami, Mohammed Siraj