India and Australia are all set to renew their rivalry as the two Cricket powerhouses will clash for an eight-game white-ball series starting this Sunday, October 19.
The tour kicks off with a three-match ODI series, which marks the return of India legends Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in international cricket. The two stalwarts last featured for the Men in Blue in the Champions Trophy earlier this year.
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Ahead of the highly anticipated ODI series, Australia legend Matthew Hayden made a surprising claim that many Australians would want India to win the series, as they love to see Kohli and Sharma play.
The two icons not only command a massive fanbase in India, but they also enjoy a considerable amount of support down under and Hayden feels that the presence of the two Indian stars will be a major factor.
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"Many Australians want to see India win" - Matthew Hayden
Speaking to JioStar, the legendary Australian opener said: "One thing you can always say about Australian fans is that they absolutely love seeing the very best athletes. They’ve celebrated Virat Kohli like their own, and the same goes for Rohit Sharma.
"The crowds are going to be magnificent. Optus Stadium in Perth is an absolutely stunning venue, and with over a million Indians living and working here, there will be incredible support. They’ll celebrate Virat, they’ll celebrate Rohit, and even though many are Australians, they’ll want to see India win."
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The southpaw added: "Everyone is very excited to see them Down Under, and I expect them to be at their very best. Thirteen thousand runs for Virat, Rohit averaging nearly 50 in ODIs—it's an exciting prospect."
What next for the Indian cricket team?
India and Australia will lock horns in the first ODI of the series on Sunday, October 19, in Perth.
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