Team India Has An Enviable ODI Record To Protect

The host's challenge will be in finding the ideal combination to counter Australia's batting depth.

- Shreedutta Chidananda

AUS IN INDIA

India enters its final One ­Day International series before the World Cup with a great degree of certainty around the squad.

There were “just one or two places” that remained to be filled in the final 15­ man group for the big tourna­ment, M.S.K. Prasad, chair­ man of the Senior Selection Committee, said recently.

Last week, Virat Kohli felt every piece of the jigsaw was "more or less sorted". It is clear that Kohli and the selec­tors have no intention of making any dramatic last­ minute additions or excisions, instead largely keeping faith in the unit that has taken shape over the last year­and­ a­half.

One last look

This ve­match series against Australia, which begins with the first ODI at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadi­um here on Saturday, will give the home side a last look at itself in a competitive environment ahead of the World Cup.