The road to the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup heats up as Australia take on India in a three game ODI series, which will be crucial for Australia’s preparation seven months out from the World Cup. Game One kicks off in Mumbai on Friday night, and it's set to be a cracking series between the two highest ranked sides in ODI cricket!
It's going to be a huge test for the Australians who have had a challenging tour, and Jack Tobin has got you covered with his preview and tips for the First One Day International the three match series. Be sure to go check out our Cricket Tips page for all of our cricket coverage!
India vs Australia 1st ODI Betting Tips
Mumbai, Friday 18th March, 7.00pm (AEDT)
Squads
India: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, K L Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umran Malik, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Jaydev Unadkatt
Australia: Steve Smith, Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa
India
India have an embarrassment of riches to pick from when it comes to their white ball squads, and it will be interesting to see how they configure their eleven given the Test series wrapped up Monday. Rohit Sharma (personal reasons) and Shreyas Iyer (back) are confirmed outs for game one, with Hardik Pandya expected to take the reins as captain.
India come into this series as the number one ranked ODI team, on a seven game winning streak in one day cricket. The Indians recorded clean sweeps over Sri Lanka and New Zealand in their last two series, and their home record in ODI cricket is something to behold. India have won seventeen of their last twenty One Day Internationals at home, and have won seven consecutive ODI series at home.
Shubman Gill has been the most prolific batsman in ODI cricket in 2023, scoring 567 runs at an average of 113, with three centuries from just six innings. His 2023 form comes on the back of scoring 638 runs at an average of 70 in 2022. Gill will be full of confidence after scoring a century in the final Test of the Border-Gavaskar series, and will be a major problem for the Aussies.
Australia
Pat Cummins (personal reasons), Josh Hazlewood (achilles) and Jhye Richardson (hamstring) headline the absences for Australia, who’s fast bowling stocks have taken a massive hit coming into this series. Steve Smith will continue as captain, while David Warner is expected to be fit after recovering from an elbow injury. Coach Andrew McDonald has hinted that the Australians will field an all-rounder heavy side with Glenn Maxwell, Mitch Marsh, Marcus Stoinis and Cameron Green all in the fifteen man squad.
Australia are ranked second in the ICC ODI rankings, and although they’ve won nine of their last ten One Day Internationals, their form is hardly as impressive as India’s. Australia’s wins came against Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Zimbabwe and a rotated England side just days after they won the T20 World Cup last year. Australia have lost three of their last four ODI series in India.
The makeup of Australia’s bowling attack will be fascinating to see with Cummins, Hazlewood and Richardson out. Starc and Zampa are locks to play, Ashton Agar will be likely to play, then it will be a decision between Nathan Ellis as a second genuine seamer, or if a combination of Marcus Stoinis and Cameron Green allows the Australians to pick only three front line bowlers.
Match Prediction
This series was going to be a tough enough challenge with a full squad, let alone the carnage that Australia have experienced on the injury front. What the challenges do provide is a golden opportunity for Nathan Ellis to press his claims for a spot in the eleven for the World Cup later this year, as well as trying some different combinations with the all rounders.
India are firing on all cylinders in white ball cricket, and players will be desperate to perform well and secure a position in a stacked side ahead of a home world cup. India’s batting will be too strong against an undermanned Australian bowling attack that still doesn’t know their best eleven.
Prop Bets
116, 208, 40* and 112, Shubman Gill’s last four ODI innings, enough said. Gill has been on an absolute tear in one day cricket this year and he’ll have his sights set on making a big statement against Australia. Across the last two years Gill has scored 1205 runs at an average of 86 from just 18 innings in ODI cricket. It’s a mind blowing run of form, and it’s hard to see it stopping any time soon.
Shubman Gill Over 31.5 Runs, $1.83 with Ladbrokes
2022 was a breakout year in one day cricket for Travis Head, after getting some opportunities to bat at the top of the order for Australia after Aaron Finch’s retirement. Head scored 550 runs at an average of 68, with 2 centuries and 3 half centuries in the calendar year. Head was impressive as an opener in the final two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar trophy, and will be looking to continue that form against the new ball.
Travis Head over 26.5 Runs, $1.83 with Ladbrokes
