Australia tour to India 2019 [Preview]
Australia is set to tour India in the month of February and March to play two T20Is followed by five ODIs. Aaron Finch will lead Australia in both the formats of the game against India. On the other hand, India have shown incredible form and consistency to clinch one-day series in New Zealand.
Australia have been poor in limited-overs cricket since ICC Champions Trophy 2017 and won only four games out of twenty six played. Finch will be hoping that side can turn things around in the upcoming tour to India.
For Australia, Aaron Finch needs to fire with the bat at the top of the innings in this series. Since taking over captaincy of the side in limited-overs cricket, he is averaging 13.83 with the bat.
Finch will need to spend time at the crease to find form with the bat and conditions in India will certainly suit his style of batting. He certainly has done exceedingly well in India and is averaging 48.88 with one century to his name.
Wicket-keeper Alex Carey will need to score runs in the upcoming five-match one-day series to retain his place in the side. He scored only 47 runs in three one-day games played against India at home.
Shaun Marsh is expected to join the one-day squad during the one-day leg of the tour. Left-hander has been in-form player for Australia in limited-overs cricket this season. Since Feb 2018, he has scored 640 runs in 10 matches with four centuries to his name. Australia will be hoping that Marsh can continue his rich vein of form in this five-match series against India.
D’Arcy Short has been included in the one-day squad after doing well in this year’s Big Bash competition. Usman Khuwaja, Peter Handscomb and Marcus Stoinis played crucial knocks for Australia in the one-day series played against India. Handscomb was a big positive for Australia as they needed consistency in the middle-order in limited-overs cricket.
In the bowling department, Pat Cummins, Jason Behrendorff, Jhye Richardson and Kane Richardson are pace options for the side for the one-day series. All-rounder Ashton Turner has earned his maiden call-up to the limited-overs squad.
Nathan Lyon and Adam Zampa are two premier options in the spin department for Australia for the one-day series.
On the other hand, India have notched up another comfortable series in New Zealand. Indian Captain Virat Kohli will be hoping that the side can continue their rich vein of form in this home series against Australia.
Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan are one of explosive opening pairs in limited-overs cricket. Sharma has certainly been a consistent performer for the side over the past couple of years.
Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni and Hardik Pandya will make up the middle-order for India. Kedhar Jadhav is another all-rounder included in the side if conditions are favorable for spinners.
Vijay Shankar is also a promising player that can give value with bat and ball. In the bowling department, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammad Shami and Jaspreet Bumrah will be first-choice seamers for the one-day series. Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav have formed a lethal spin combination for India in limited-overs cricket.
Australia will kick-start their tour with a two-match T20I series against India. The opening game of the T20I series will be played on 24th February in Bengaluru. The second and final will be played on 27th February in Visakhapatnam. The culmination of the T20I series will see Australia take on India in a five-match one-day series that starts from 2nd March in Hyderabad. The remaining games will be played in Nagpur, Ranchi, Mohali and Delhi to conclude the tour.
