Kuldeep Yadav was India’s best bowler in the last two series (Asia Cup and West Indies Tests), but despite that, he is not playing in the second ODI against Australia, which is taking place at Adelaide
Oval on Thursday (October 23). The Indian team management has decided to play with the same team which lost the series opener in Perth last Sunday by 7 wickets.
After a below-par show by Indian bowlers in the first ODI, there were high chances of Kuldeep’s inclusion in the playing XI for the must-win match, but the Indian team management decided not to make any changes.
“We would have bowled first as well. Happy to bat first. The weather looks good today, hopefully no stoppages today. Batting first, hopefully we’ll get plenty of runs on the board. And then get some movement under lights when we have the ball in our hand. We are going with the same team,” India captain Shubman Gill said at the toss.
In Kuldeep’s absence, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar will be India’s spin bowlers, and the onus of fast bowling will rest on the shoulders of Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana. Nitish Kumar Reddy is also expected to bowl a few overs.
India to bat 1st
Like the first match in Perth, the Indian team will bat first in the second ODI as well. Australia captain Mitchell Marsh won the toss on Thursday and opted to field first. The weather is bright and sunny in Adelaide, and there are very few chances of rain in the coming hours.
3 changes for Australia
On the other hand, Australia have made three changes to their playing XI. Josh Phillipe, Matthew Kuhnemann and Nathan Ellis are out, and in their place Alex Carey, Adam Zampa and Xavier Bartlett are playing at Adelaide Oval.
Playing XIs
India: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (C), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj
Australia: Mitchell Marsh (C), Travis Head, Matthew Short, Matt Renshaw, Alex Carey (WK), Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Owen, Xavier Bartlett, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
