After wrapping up the Test assignment, India and Australia are up against each other for the three-match ODI series which kicked off on March 17 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Hardik Pandya, who is leading India's pack in the first ODI in the absence of regular skipper Rohit Sharma, opted to bowl first after winning the toss and his decision proved right for the Men in Blue. India got off to a stunning start with Mohammed Siraj giving Hardik's brigade an early breakthrough by sending Travis Head to pavilion after scoring mere five runs. Mitchell Marsh took up the mantle and went on the belt 81 off 65 but wickets continued to tumble from the other end.
Of six bowlers that Hardik employed to the task, five of them were rewarded with wickets. But Mohammed Shami impressed the most with his stunning spell as he snared 3/17 to bundle Australia to just 188. Shami's sharp shooting skill was on display as he clean bowled two of the Australian batters in his six-over spell. He first rattled Josh Inglis' stumps and then went on to devastate Cameron Green's off stump with a reaper of a delivery. A good length ball pitched around the off stump swung away from Green which saw his off stump cartwheeling.
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Australia collapsed from 129/3 to 176/4 as Green took the longest walk towards pavilion after scoring 12 off 19. Beside Shami, Mohammed Siraj scalped three wickets to wrap up visitors' innings for a measley score. Ravindra Jadeja also impressed with a two wickets while Pandya and Kuldeep Yadav snared a wicket apiece.
Suryakumar Yadav was included in the playing XI in place of Shreyas Iyer, who was ruled out of the series due to a back injury.
Meanwhile, Australia's stand-in skipper Steve Smith has decided to field Josh Inglis in place of Alex Carey, who is sick and has returned home.
"Happy batting first because I didn't know what to do. We got to try our best to adjust to these conditions, and get our combinations right with the WC in mind. I think we played well in the back end (on BGT series), and plenty of fresh faces to choose from," he said during the toss.
Sharing further team news, Steve said, "David Warner is not yet fully fit, so Mitch Marsh will open the batting. The rest of the changes will come on the big television here soon enough."
India's playing XI: Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan(w), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya(c), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami.
Australia Playing XI: Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith(c), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis(w), Cameron Green, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Sean Abbott, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa
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