India’s much-awaited tour of Australia got underway with the first ODI at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Friday (November 27).

Opting to bat first, Australia piled up a mammoth 374/6 in 50 overs on the back of stunning centuries from Aaron Finch (114 off 124 balls) and Steve Smith (105 off 66 balls). David Warner (69 off 76 balls) and Glenn Maxwell (45 off 19 balls) also made significant contributions with the bat.

In reply, the visitors could manage 308/8 in 50 overs. Opener Shikhar Dhawan (74 off 86 balls) and all-rounder Hardik Pandya (90 off 76 balls) were the lone warriors for India during the chase.

Reflecting on India’s loss, former England skipper Michael Vaughan said the Men in Blue are lacking a 6th bowling option and depth in batting and hence, it would be tough for them to a World Cup with this team.

“For India’s ODI team, the biggest concern for me, if I was a selector, or in the management, would be lack of 6th bowling option. They need at least 6 or 7 - and the lack of depth in this batting line-up,” Vaughan said while speaking in a video chat on Cricbuzz.

“I know we are a long way off from the World Cup, but I just don’t see this formation winning the World Cup. With 5 or 6 bowling options, and 7 batsmen and then you are down to your bowlers.

“You think the IPL has been around for so many years, the selectors would have figured out players who could fill that role - whether it’s couple of players in the top six who can bowl, or an allrounder. When Hardik starts bowling, they will have that bowler,” he further said.

“But once they start looking at the structure of the team to give themselves an even better chance of winning the World Cup in Indian conditions - because I don’t see, as we see, the formation they have right now, winning the World Cup,” he explained.

The second ODI will be played in Sydney on Sunday (November 29).