Following a closely fought four-match Test series, India and Australia are preparing for an ODI series that could be pivotal in more ways than one. While India will face their toughest test at home in the 50-over format in 2023 after playing three-match series against Sri Lanka and New Zealand, Australia is still building their team in the post-Aaron Finch era. But, with the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 just around the corner, both teams will be hoping to nail down their lineups in this warm-up for the big event.
However, both teams’ preparations have been far from ideal due to injuries, and a few key players will miss parts of the series, some for a game or two, while others for the entire series. While David Warner, who has returned from an elbow injury, will be monitored until Friday morning to see if he will play in the first ODI, the regular captains of both teams will also miss the series (one match in the case of Rohit Sharma) due to personal reasons. Here is a list of those who are unable to attend:
1. Rohit Sharma – one match
Skipper Rohit Sharma is reportedly planning to attend his brother-in-wedding law’s and will thus miss the series opener at his home ground, Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. In his absence, Hardik Pandya will lead the Indian team.
2. Shreyas Iyer – all three matches
Middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer will miss the ODI series, according to fielding coach T. Dilip. Iyer’s back injury flared up again during the fourth Test against Australia and will keep him out until the end of April.
3. Pat Cummins – all three matches
Pat Cummins, Australia’s Test and One-Day International captain, and his family are in mourning after his mother Maria died during the Ahmedabad Test. Cummins has decided to stay in Sydney, and Steve Smith will captain the visiting side for the Test matches.
4. Josh Hazlewood – all three matches
Senior Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood, who is still recovering from an Achilles injury, will miss the three-match ODI series following the Test matches, and speculation about his participation in the IPL 2023 has begun.
5. Jhye Richardson – all three matches
Jhye Richardson, another Australian pacer who returned to action for his local club after a two-month injury layoff, suffered a hamstring pull and bowled only four overs in the match. Richardson had surgery recently and will miss the ODIs as well as the IPL 2023. Nathan Ellis has been named Richardson’s replacement in Australia’s One-Day International squad.
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