Hardik-led India gears up for first ODI against Australia

Overcast skies and hazy climate welcomed the Indian group because it hit the bottom on Wednesday afternoon for a coaching session forward of the primary ODI towards Australia on the Wankhede Stadium.

One of the floodlights needed to be turned on as about seven to eight gamers – underneath the watchful eyes of batting coach Vikram Rathour and bowling coach Paras Mhambrey – sweated it out within the elective session.

With Rohit Sharma unavailable for the primary ODI resulting from household commitments, Hardik Pandya might be main the group and he spent fairly some time within the nets, whereas discussing a factor or two with the assist workers.

Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja – who had been a part of the fourth Test towards Australia in Ahmedabad – skipped the coaching, together with head coach Rahul Dravid.

Shreyas Iyer, who complained of lower-back ache on the second day of the Ahmedabad Test, has been dominated out of the ODI sequence, and in his absence, the batting division will rely closely on Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav, who had an extended session. The selectors are unlikely to call a alternative for Iyer for now.

This would be the fifth time that India and Australia will conflict on the Wankhede Stadium, out of which the Aussies received on three events – the final being a convincing win in January, 2020.

On a floor that seems to be flat, the batters would have the sting, however the bowlers from each the groups, can be hoping to make some early inroads. While Axar Patel was lacking out on motion, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal bowled to Suryakumar and Ishan