The Indian team is set to lock horns against Australia in the third and final ODI at Rajkot on Wednesday. This will be the last game for both teams before heading into the mega World Cup 2023. Since India have already sealed the three-match ODI series by 2-0, this game is no less than a dead rubber. Senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will mark their return to the Indian side while Aussies stalwarts Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Starc will also make their comebacks in the line-up.

Team India secured a facile win in the preceding two matches, sealing victory by five wickets and then a dominant 99 runs.  The Australian team will play for their honor, looking to save themselves from a whitewash at the  Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot.

Rohit Sharma will resume his captaincy duties after KL Rahul’s brilliant performance in the two previous games. All eyes will be on Ravichandran Ashwin who left no stone unturned bowling two terrific deliveries to get rid of David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne. The inclusion of Tamil Nadu-based spinner Ashwin in the World Cup squad completely depends on the availability of Axar Patel. If left arm spinner gains fitness, Ashwin’s chances are slim.

But then if at all, Ravichandran Ashwin gets a go-ahead, then he will become the only player in the side apart from Kohli, from the 2011 World Cup-winning squad to represent India twelve years later.

Squads:

Australia: Matthew Short, David Warner, Steven Smith(c), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey(w), Cameron Green, Sean Abbott, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood, Spencer Johnson, Tanveer Sangha, Nathan Ellis, Marcus Stoinis, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh.

India: Rohit Sharma(c), Ishan Kishan(w), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav.