Australia vs India 2018-19: 5 players to watch out for in the ODI series

The high-intensity Test series is done and dusted and the Virat Kohli-led side have created history as they won the series 2-1 which is the country’s first-ever on Australian soil. India had begun this tour with a three-match T20I series which ended in a 1-1 draw (second game was washed out due to rain).

The limited-overs teams return as they square off in a three-match ODI series as the build-up to the most important event of 2019, the World Cup gets underway.

Australia haven’t had the best of times in the 50-over format. They’ve lost five consecutive bilateral series and their last series win back in January 2017 against Pakistan at home. In fact, since the Champions Trophy in 2017, they’ve won a mere three ODI matches.

India, on the other hand, have been on a roll. Since the start of 2016, they’ve lost just two bilateral ODI series (one against Australia in January 2016 and the other against England last year). Hence, there is no doubt that India start the series as favourites.

But both sides have some quality players and we seem to be in for a riveting series. Thus, we the series only a few days away, let’s take a look at five players to watch out for in this ODI series.

---

#5 Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Over the last couple of years, India’s bowling attack in ODI cricket has been fairly stable and every bowler has contributed to India’s success in this period. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah have formed a potent new-ball and death bowling pair and have got the job done more often than not.

However, in Bumrah’s absence, Bhuvneshwar will have to step up and take some additional responsibility. The 28-year-old Uttar Pradesh pacer has had an underwhelming 2018 as far as ODI cricket is concerned. He played 14 games and picked up 11 wickets.

While the economy is not much of a concern, his ability to pick wickets with the new ball has been a slight worry. However, he’s been very good at the death and has the ability to stem the flow of runs at the back end of the innings. Hence, in the absence of India’s premier pacer, Bhuvneshwar will need to play the role of a senior bowler and take charge.

#4 Jason Behrendorff

Jason Behrendorff made his international debut against India in October 2017.

Jason Behrendorff has been around the fringes of Australia’s limited-overs sides for a while now. He has played five T20Is and has been impressive. The tall left-arm quick from New South Wales rattled India in his debut international series with 4/21 (knocking over India’s top four) in a T20I in Guwahati 15 months ago.

He has had a good start to the Big Bash League where he has taken eight wickets in six games at an average of 15.37 and a strike-rate of 15.7. What’s more impressive has been his economy (5.85) which is the second best for a fast bowler in this BBL season.

He is likely to make his ODI debut in this series with all the main (frontline) quicks rested. He has shown he can trouble the opposition and given India’s vulnerability against left-arm pace, he can be very handy. Hence, can be a real threat and is one of the players to watch out for in this series.

#3 Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma has an excellent record in Australia.

Alongside Virat Kohli and the potent bowling attack, Rohit Sharma is another reason for India’s success in white-ball cricket over the last couple of years. He has simply dominated the limited-overs formats in the last two years. Both in 2017 and 2018, he crossed the 1000-run mark (in a calendar year) in ODI cricket.

The 31-year-old opener has been churning out hundreds for fun. Since the start of 2017, Rohit Sharma has scored at least one ton in every series he’s played. Moreover, he has an excellent record in Australia where he’s amassed 1143 runs at an average of 51.95.

Along with Virat Kohli, he is the backbone of the Indian batting line-up and with Shikhar Dhawan, he forms one of the best white-ball opening partnerships in world cricket at the moment. Hence, he will be looking to give India a good start at the top in the upcoming ODI series.

#2 Marcus Stoinis

Marcus Stoinis will play a key role with both bat and ball.

Marcus Stoinis is a vital member of Australia’s ODI set-up. He’s their premier all-rounder and plays a very important role with both bat and ball. He has the ability to take the game away from the opposition with the bat in the space of a few deliveries. And with the ball, he is very handy and can produce vital breakthroughs.

With the bat, Stoinis’ ODI form hasn’t been at its best. After the home series against England last year at home, his form has seen a significant dip. He’s scored only 155 runs in 8 innings and has managed to score just one fifty. But he has been very good with the ball (11 wickets in the same period), giving Australia some important wickets at crucial junctures.

However, his form in the Big Bash has been very good. He has accumulated 146 runs at an average of 48.67 and a strike-rate in excess of 150. With the ball, he’s done well and has scalped 4 wickets. Hence, he will be a key member of the Australian line-up and will have a big role to play with both bat and ball.

#1 Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep Yadav has taken giant strides in international cricket over the last couple of years and has already become a huge asset for the Indian team in all three formats of the game and more so, in the limited-overs formats. He’s been simply magnificent in white-ball cricket and is India’s No. 1 spinner alongside side Yuzvendra Chahal.

The 24-year-old chinaman was the second highest wicket-taker in 2018 as he took 45 wickets 19 games at an average of 17.777, a strike-rate of 22.9 and an economy of 4.64. These are some staggering numbers and in an era where bat has dominated in white-ball cricket, Kuldeep has found a way to not only keep the runs down but also pick up wickets regularly.

This will be Kuldeep’s first ODI assignment in Australia and will once again be key for Virat Kohli and his men. In the lead up to the Test series, he played three T20Is and picked up 4 wickets and he hardly gave anything away.

Hence, he will be a major threat and the Aussie batsmen will have to be wary of him.