India Vs Australia 2017 ODI Series: Five Players To Watch Out For

India these days set all their eyes for the grand battle against Australia yet to be played on Indian soil. This five-match ODI series starting on September 17, promises to be a riveting contest. The last time Australia came to India for an ODI series, it was a run-feast. This time also the one on offer doesn’t look any different with pitches being flat, producing hardly anything for the faster bowlers. Although the spinners could take a long breath?in this regard as spin bowling might come into play as the game progresses with a bit of wear and tear of the track. With the?home team boasting players of great skill?both with the bat and ball, here is a look at the players to watch out for the upcoming series that kicks off at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

Rohit Sharma:

The Indian opener had a magnificent run in the shorter format of the game against Sri Lanka. Having scored two centuries and a fifty, Rohit would be looking forward to the series against Australia.

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There is hardly a better sight in world cricket than watching Rohit in full flow and his good form would be ideal for the home side to get off to a great start and set the tone for the rest of the games.

Virat Kohli:

The Indian skipper has been in unconquerable touch in the past couple of years and that reflects from the stats he right now possesses along with himself. Bringing up his 30th ODI century against Sri Lanka in the previous series, equalling the great Ricky Ponting with only Sachin Tendulkar ahead of him who has scored 49 ODI centuries, this man is here to shoot out his talents to larger extents. Kohli would be looking to get past Ponting at the earliest and the kind of the form he is in, it is only a matter of time before he does.

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If the Aussies savour to entertain their nation with series winning patches, it stands imperative for them to get rid of the Indian skipper as early as possible. Otherwise the master chaser will take the game away from them.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni:

Here comes the former captain cool, Mahendra Singh Dhoni. There has been a lot of fuss around MSD’s place in the team and many experts opinion floats into the equation whether or not he can make it to the 2019 World Cup. For the time being, he has already put all this brouhaha to rest. He has displayed glimpses of his calm demeanor in the series against Sri Lanka, bailing India out of trouble on more than one occasion.

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His glovework behind the stumps has been exemplary and those quick hands might well be on display again in this series. The fancy glovework can only go on to add to his tally of stumpings. If Kohli doesn’t get you, Dhoni definitely will. Australia will have to bring their ‘A’ game to the table in order to be competitive in the series.

Hardik Pandya:

The young all-rounder from Baroda has made his historical way in the last one year or so. His skills, both with the bat and ball has been more than impressive in all formats of the game. Pandya bowls a heavy ball and can sometimes surprise the batsman with his pace and an odd short ball.

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The 23-year-old can use the long handle to good effect and can clear the fence with ease. Pandya can be the surprise package in the series. Hence he might turn a few matches in India’s favor with his all-around skills.

Kuldeep Yadav:

In his short stint in international cricket, Kuldeep Yadav has made quite a name for himself. While the first choice spinners might be Axar Patel and Yuzvendra Chahal in the line-up. In a five-match series, Kuldeep will get his opportunity. With India bending more towards rotating their players with an eye on the 2019 World Cup an opportunity will arise for this young lad.

The Kanpur chinaman bowler turned the Dharamsala Test against the same opponents earlier this year in his debut Test. Keeping that in mind, the most of the Aussies will fail to pick his wrong one. Kuldeep will be aware of that fact and will be raring to bowl to the Aussies who are traditionally not great players of spin.