India (probable XI): 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Shubman Gill/Ishan Kishan, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Shreyas Iyer/Suryakumar Yadav, 5 KL Rahul (wk), 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 R Ashwin, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, 11 Mohammed Siraj
Australia (probable XI): 1 David Warner, 2 Mitchell Marsh, 3 Steven Smith, 4 Marnus Labuschagne, 5 Cameron Green, 6 Alex Carey (wk), 7 Glenn Maxwell, 8 Mitchell Starc, 9 Pat Cummins (capt), 10 Josh Hazlewood, 11 Adam Zampa
In a much-anticipated clash, India is all set to take on Australia in their World Cup opener today at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Adding to the world cup fever, the cricketing world is abuzz with excitement as two formidable teams prepare to lock horns on a pitch expected to offer ample spin and turn.
Australia, known for their resilience, faces a crucial decision concerning all-rounder Marcus Stoinis, nursing a hamstring injury. While Stoinis's availability remains uncertain, Australia's strong bench of all-rounders, including Cameron Green and Glenn Maxwell, provides depth and a potential batting boost.
Captain Pat Cummins acknowledged the challenge of facing Indian spinners on the spin-friendly Chepauk pitch. India, armed with a formidable spin trio in Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, and potentially Ravichandran Ashwin, possesses the spin artillery to test the Australians.
India's opening conundrum intensifies with the uncertainty surrounding Shubman Gill, who's battling suspected dengue. Should Gill miss the match, Ishan Kishan might step in to partner captain Rohit Sharma at the top, aiming to maintain a good strike rate despite the anticipated slow nature of the pitch.
However, coach Rahul Dravid is confident that Indian middle-order, anchored by the experienced Virat Kohli and bolstered by the likes of Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul, is prepared to tackle Australia's formidable pace attack. Kohli, particularly dominant against Australia's main bowlers, presents a significant threat.
Recent encounters have seen Australia maintain a competitive record in India, drawing from their extensive experience in subcontinental conditions, largely due to their players' active involvement in the IPL.
The early stages of the match, marked by powerplays and aggressive batting, could set the tone, with Australia historically scoring at a brisk rate in this phase. However, India's exceptional new-ball bowlers and their proficiency in generating lateral movement present a formidable challenge.
With the Chennai track historically favoring spin and India's exceptional record in the subcontinent, the encounter promises a riveting display of cricket, one that could set the momentum for the tournament. Cricket enthusiasts await a thrilling battle between bat and ball as these cricketing powerhouses vie for a victorious start to their World Cup campaign.