Former Australia captain Aaron Finch feels the upcoming three-ODI series will be a “great series”. While on paper, he reckons that the two sides are evenly matched, he predicts Australia will register a 2-1 series win as Shubman Gill makes his ODI captaincy debut. Most of all, he is excited to see Virat Kohli getting back in the action on Australian soil.
“It will be a great series,” Finch is quoted as saying on the International Cricket Council’s website. “It always is against India and I think having Virat back in there brings out the best in him against Australia. It’s always a great battle when you look at it on paper as it’s very evenly matched, but I’d say Australia (win the series) 2-1.
“Not confidently though as India are a great side and it will just be a great series to watch.”
Finch on Gill’s captaincy and much-needed support
Finch lauded Gill’s captaincy in T20 (for Gujarat Titans in IPL) and Test formats. The former opener said that Gill will have the support of senior duo Rohit Sharma and Kohli which he did not have on England Test tour.
"Shubman has already shown what a good leader he is in T20 cricket and Test cricket, so I'm sure this will be no different," Finch noted.
"He's a brilliant player, particularly in the white-ball formats and the way that he captained against England in the Test series is just a huge tick in his box to take the next step and takeover the Indian leadership right the way through (all three formats).
"I think when you look back to that England Test series he (Gill) didn't have many other options that he could turn to for advice, probably when he was out on the ground, but he did a wonderful job himself.
"But I think just having those guys (Rohit and Kohli) there will be a real calmness for him as well, because it's the ability to bounce ideas, both on and off the field on how you want the team to function going forward, because they've been such a huge part of the team for a long period of time."
Gill’s ODI record against Australia
So far, Gill has played just one ODI on Australian soil, scoring 33 runs. Against Australia in ODIs, he has 280 runs from eight innings at an average of 35, including a century and one fifty. He will look to improve his record in Australia after an underwhelming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.