India vs. Australia 2nd ODI: Australia Wins Toss, Smith Opts to Bowl First

In the absence of regular skipper Sharma, Hardik-led India won the first game played in Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.

After winning the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, India is now giving its best to win the ongoing ODI series. In merely minutes from now, India will take on Australia at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Vishakhapatnam. Australian skipper Steve Smith has won the toss and opted to bowl first.

For the record, in the first match played at the Wankhede Stadium, a Shami-powered India dismissed Australia for 188 and won the match with five wickets in hand. In the absence of regular skipper Sharma, acting captain Hardik Pandya once again led the team to victory. Not to forget, struggling batsman KL Rahul scored a not-out 75.

Captains’ statements

Skipper Smith said, "We will have a bowl. Different surface, been under covers for a while, might do something. Just a partnership through the middle would have helped us. It's a good learning for us playing on these surfaces. Ellis comes in for Maxwell who has pulled up a bit sore and Carey is back for Inglis," as quoted by NDTV Sports.

"Pitch has been under the covers for a long time, we got to bat well and see where we are. Every game you play for India is a pressure game, so you got to stay calm and make the right decision. We have tried to remain calm in the last few ODI series we have played. Two changes. Ishan misses out, I am back for him, Shardul misses out and Axar is in. If we win the toss, I thought we could do something with three spinners if we bowl first," said India’s captain Sharma.

Playing eleven

India: Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, KL Rahul(w), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami

Australia: Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith(c), Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey(w), Cameron Green, Marcus Stoinis, Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa.