Prelude to World Cup prep

Visakhapatnam, February 23

Cementing spots in their World Cup squads will top the agenda for India and Australia alike when their limited-over series starts with the first T20I tomorrow.

Virat Kohli returns to lead India as the two teams face off in two T20Is, followed by a five-match ODI series, which will be India’s last rubber before this year’s 50-over World Cup. India will get busy with the Indian Premier League before heading to the World Cup in England. However, Australia will have another opportunity to hone their 50-over skills when they play Pakistan next month.

For Kohli, this series will be the last chance to identify the batsman to fill a middle-order spot in an otherwise settled side. There is not much ambiguity in their pace bowling options, while the successful spin duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav is set to travel to England, where the two-time champions begin their World Cup campaign against South Africa on June 5. 

Kuldeep Yadav has, however, been rested for the T20I leg against Australia while all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been ruled out of the entire series with lower-back stiffness. That has presented an opportunity to spin bowling all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja for a final World Cup audition, after being initially overlooked.

Top trouble

Australia are yet to nail down captain Aaron Finch’s opening partner, though it is a spot that David Warner is likely to fill at the World Cup after his ball-tampering ban expires. They have multiple options in vice-captain Alex Carey, D’Arcy Short and Usman Khawaja and a good performance in the shortest format would do a player’s hopes of opening in the ODI side no harm.

Don’t pick up bad habits in IPL, manage workload: Kohli

India captain Virat Kohli had a clear message for all his World Cup-bound teammates — don’t pick up bad (technical) habits during the IPL and manage workload carefully, taking rest whenever necessary. “They have to make sure that their game does not drift away too much from the ODI mould of things. That means we will have to be very wary of the bad habits that might creep in during the IPL,” Kohli said. The national team’s interest has always been paramount for Kohli, and accordingly, he wants his teammates to make that effort during the IPL. “That (not picking up bad habits) will take a consistent effort from all the players. The moment you enter the nets and inculcate bad habits, you lose the momentum and you lose batting form. It is very difficult to get it back in a tournament like the World Cup,” Kohli warned his teammates about the wild shots that are in vogue in the shortest format. — PTI

Focus on Markande, Shankar at India nets

India coach Ravi Shastri and bowling coach Bharat Arun gave special attention to Indian squad’s latest wrist-spinner, Mayank Markande. The Punjab leggie was called on to bowl after Yuzvendra Chahal today as Shastri and Arun chatted with the youngster. Vijay Shankar bowled full steam at the nets alongside Umesh Yadav, indicating the all-rounder will have a lot to do in the T20I and ODI series against Australia. The 28-year-old all-rounder will look to play the role of the third seamer behind Jasprit Bumrah and Umesh Yadav.

In Numbers

•  3 T20I played at the venue till now. In 2012, an India-New Zealand match was abandoned without a ball being bowled. India bundled out Sri Lanka for 82 here in 2016
• 19  T20Is Australia have played in 2018, their most in a year, excluding a T20I World Cup. India have also played 19, their second-highest tally of matches in a year
• 2 Rohit Sharma needs just two sixes to be the most prolific six-hitter in T20Is— Reuters