Australia vs India: Top 5 player battles to watch out for in the ODI series

The Australia vs India ODI series is easily one of the most looked forward to series of the entire year, with viewers not just from these two nations but worldwide. Both of these are world-class teams, and the matches between the two nations have always been interesting. Further to make things interesting, here are the top five player battles that might add flavour to the series.

1. Rohit Sharma vs Mitchell Starc

Rohit remains the world’s premier white-ball batter. He’s the batter who will take the pace on early and punish anything short of perfect length. Starc’s strength is the reverse that he gets the ball toe-crushingly full at 145+ kph with late movement and a scary bouncer that can force a mistake even from the best. 

The contest becomes a game of small margins. Rohit’s ability to leave or rock back and slog over the infield when Starc misses the yorker will be crucial, while Starc will aim to bowl his wicket-taking inswing on a head-high length and win with the new ball. The early overs will be crucial for both players. If Rohit times the short balls, Starc will be forced to change plans.

2. Virat Kohli vs Josh Hazlewood

Kohli’s game is built on timing, footwork and the ability to find gaps under pressure. His ODI record and hunger for big, match-defining innings make him the obvious pivot of India’s chase or consolidation phases. Hazlewood’s craft is the opposite weapon set. He is tall, accurate, and relentless on a good length, and he pegs batsmen back outside off to wait for an error. 

Kohli-Hazlewood is about patience versus persistence. Kohli will try to rotate strike and force Hazlewood into the odd loose delivery, while Hazlewood will probe channels and aim for those half-volleying mistakes that create edges or LBW opportunities. Expect long, attritional duels early in the innings.

3. Travis Head vs Arshdeep Singh

Head brings flair and a brutal ability to score quickly against pace. He prefers to take the game deep and punish any loose length. Arshdeep is India’s specialist for angle, late swing and death overs. His wide-seam, toe-up deliveries and well-disguised slower balls aim to stop batters from free-wheeling. 

In the powerplay, where Head will look to take the aerial route, and that is where Arshdeep’s variations are designed to strangle scoring. The contests between these have always been great, whether it has been at the international stage or in the IPL. 

4. Mitchell Marsh vs Kuldeep Yadav

Marsh is the archetype of the modern all-format No.5: powerful, able to clear boundaries at will and capable of changing momentum in a single over. Kuldeep is a left-arm wrist spinner whose stock delivery and wrong-un have the knack of fooling big hitters when they try to loft too early. 

This duel is about timing and deception, where Marsh will look to target the shorter ball and get into position quickly, while Kuldeep will vary pace and flight to induce top-edge or mis-timed hits.

5. Shreyas Iyer vs Adam Zampa

Iyer is India’s middle-order engine. He is compact, able to accelerate without losing risk control, and comfortable against spin when he gets in. Zampa is Australia’s premier leg-spin option in white ball cricket. He bowls tight, disciplined lines and builds pressure with his googly and flatter legbreak. 

This battle will shape the middle overs where Iyer needs to rotate and pick the right ball to attack, while Zampa will look to bounce him out of rhythm with subtle variations and the occasional flatter, quicker delivery.

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