India will resume their ODI campaign on Oct. 19 - their first since winning the ICC Champions Trophy in Dubai back in March.
The Shubman Gill-led side will be up against Australia in the 1st of the three match ODI series at Optus Stadium in Perth.
With assistance to the pacers, India is likely to start with a combination of three fast bowlers and two spinners, while Nitish Kumar Reddy is likely to be the sixth bowling option.
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As the series commences on Sunday, former India opener Aakash Chopra picked Harshit Rana as one of his premier pacers in Perth.
Aakash Chopra picks his playing XI for 1st ODI vs AUS
While previewing the series opener on his YouTube channel, Aakash backed a three-man pace-attack alongside Nitish Kumar as the fast-bowling all-rounder.
He also snubbed Kuldeep Yadav for a spinner duo of Axar Patel and Washington Sundar for the match.
"I will go with Mohammed Siraj. People have forgotten that he was not in the Champions Trophy Squad and the Asia Cup but he needs to be there and deserves it. I want to play Harshit Rana. There was a toss-up between him and Prasidh Krishna but Rana is travelling with the team and if the team sees the promise and potential in him then he should be played," said Chopra.
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He backed Rana to have a good game, considering the seamer friendly conditions of Perth and that he made his Test debut at the venue, picking 3/48 and 1/69 in India's win last year.
He further added Arshdeep Singh to complete the Indian playing XI and termed him as a match-winner, believing in his potential to play the World Cup 2027 in South African conditions.
Aakash Chopra's playing XI vs Australia 1st ODI:
- Rohit Sharma
- Shubman Gill (c)
- Virat Kohli
- Shreyas Iyer
- KL Rahul (wk)
- Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Axar Patel
- Washington Sundar
- Harshit Rana
- Arshdeep Singh
- Mohammed Siraj
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