Photo Gallery: 5 players to watch out for in India vs Australia ODI series

Following a string of poor run with the bat and a provisional suspension for his controversial comments during a celebrity talk show, top-order batsman KL Rahul finally made an impressive return to the national squad with two back-to-back decent T20I scores against Australia. The Indian opener first notched up 50 off 36 balls in the opening T20I  before following it up with a 26-ball 47 in the second match in Bengaluru. 

 

If he manages to maintain his decent form in the upcoming limited-over series, then he is most likely to retain his place in India's World Cup squad as the reserve opener.

Though all-rounder Vijay Shankar did not get a chance to bat for India in the recently-concluded T20I series, he was called to open the attack against Australia in the second match. Shankar, who was included in the squad as injured Hardik Pandya's replacement, did not disappoint the national selectors as he grabbed big wickets of Aaron Finch and D'Arcy Short. However, he proved to be quite expensive for India as he gave away at least nine runs an over. 

 

Shankar will look to put up a decent show in the upcoming ODI series against Australia in order to strengthen his case for selection in the World Cup squad as the back-up allrounder to Hardik Pandya. (Image Credits: Twitter/@vijayshankar260)

 

Having failed to click with the bat in the two-match T20I series against Australia, Rishabh Pant will look to make quick amendments heading into the ODI series as he is well aware that the upcoming fixtures will be his last chance to bring himself in contention for selection as the second wicketkeeper-batsman after Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the 2019 Word Cup. 

 

Pant was dismissed for three and one run in the two innings against Aaron Finch's side. (Image Credit: PTI)

With a berth for the fourth seamer is still up for grab in India's World Cup squad, pacer Siddarth Kaul will look to pull back some good performance in the ODIs against Australia in order to put himself in contention for the mega event. 

 

Kaul, who got a chance to perform in the second T20I in Bengaluru, kicked off his first over well by giving just four runs to the Australians and removing Marcus Stoinis. However, he conceded 30 runs in his final two overs to finish with figures of 1/45 in 3.4 overs.

 

All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who was once one of the regular members of India's limited-overs squads, has got an opportunity to rebuild his ODI career after being named as injured Hardik Pandya's replacement.

 

If given a chance to perform, Jadeja will be definitely gunning to seal a berth in the Indian squad for 2019 mega event. (Image Credit: Ravindra Jadeja)