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Fantasy: A good day for batters in store in first ODI

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Last updated on 16 Mar 2023 | 12:03 PM
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Fantasy: A good day for batters in store in first ODI

Here are a few tips that could help you create your fantasy XI for the first ODI between India and Australia in Mumbai

After a hard-fought Test series, India and Australia will kick-start the three-match ODI series with the opening fixture in Mumbai. Here are some helpful tips that may help you in creating an efficient fantasy XI for this fixture.

Pitch and conditions 

Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium has one of the most sporting wickets in the country - a true surface that contains good carry for the bowlers and decent value for strokeplay. Therefore, the spinners can feel left out a bit. In the last three ODIs at this venue, the spinners have averaged 80.4 runs per wicket, the highest for all venues in India since 2015. The economy is also 6.1. Overall, spinners have picked only 23% of the wickets in these three ODIs. 

Yet, expect both sides to carry multiple spin bowling options in this game, courtesy of all-rounders. 

Suggested teams

While you could go for the above team, you can also choose your team from Cricket.com’s Fantasy Research Centre. You can use this tool to build your team with the help of algorithms. Then, based on your preferences, the platform will guide you through creating the ideal fantasy XI.

Captaincy suggestions

For small leagues: Shubman Gill ( c ), Travis Head (vc)

For grand leagues: Virat Kohli ( c ), Steve Smith (vc)

Stats That Matter

> Shubman Gill is the only batter to score above 1000 runs in ODI cricket since 2022 (among Test playing nations). He has scored 1205 runs at an average of 86.07, including nine 50+ scores in 18 innings. 

> Travis Head averages 68.8 in ODIs since 2022 at a strike-rate of 112.2. 

> Kuldeep Yadav averages 40.3 runs per wicket against Australia, his second worst bowing average against any opposition. However, the wrist-spinner has 18 wickets in his last nine ODIs, dated back to October 2022.

> Adam Zampa has dismissed Virat Kohli five times in ODI cricket alongside getting the better of Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul thrice each. That is the most these batters have gotten out against an Australian bowler. Rahul averages only 16.7 against Zampa.

Grand League Punts 

> India is one of Steve Smith’s favorite opponents. He averages 62.4 against India in ODIs while striking at 105.1 alongside scoring five hundreds. There are three hundreds and a 98 in his last five innings versus India. 

> Mitchell Starc picked 3/56 last time Australia played at the Wankhede stadium. The new ball swings at this venue which can make Starc a dangerous bowler in this fixture. Also, David Warner scored 128* in that fixture

> Off-spinners have been the most successful kind of spinners in recent history at Wankhede, picking 2 wickets per innings on average since 2015. These numbers will keep Washington Sundar in play who can also create an impact with the bat. 

> 113, 4, 166*, 8, 11, 36. These are Virat Kohli’s scores in ODIs this year. The former India captain has showcased why ODI cricket is his best format. In Mumbai, specifically, he averages 66.25 in five matches.

Here are the Top 10 Criclytics Projections 

Probable XIs

India: Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan (wk), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Hardik Pandya ( c ), Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammad Shami, Mohammed Siraj

Australia: Travis Head, David Warner, Steve Smith ( c ), Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Cameron Green, Glenn Maxwell, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa


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