If the Asia Cup 2023 was the blind auditions, the three-match ODI series between India and Australia will be a battleground of fitness levels and final strategies ahead of this year’s showpiece gala - the ICC ODI Cricket World Cup 2023.

India, to begin with, have used their license of squad selection to break the roster into two parts - one team led by stand-in skipper KL Rahul for the opening two ODIs and regular captain Rohit Sharma returning to lead the Men in Blue for the final game. Why? The Indian think-tank saw most of its objectives ticked off with the Asia Cup campaign and will now use this series to address the last bits of concern - reserves and bench options for the CWC.

On the other hand, Australia have seen its blueprint plans for the World Cup take a hit with several last-minute injury bombs. And, coming off a whirlwind ODI series against South Africa - where they gave up a 2-0 lead to lose the series 2-3, the Aussies will look to find the proper balance structure within the team - headed by Pat Cummins - that has touched down the Indian shores.

What: India vs Australia, three-match ODI series

When: 1st ODI - September 22; 2nd ODI - September 24; 3rd ODI - September 27

Where: 1st ODI - Mohali; 2nd ODI - Indore; 3rd ODI - Rajkot

What to expect: A triumphant return of spin from Ravichandran Ashwin; Marnus Labuschagne, and a few other players hoping to pass the final test to seal WC squad berths. Expect temperatures to soar in the atmosphere and on the field, knowing the weight of the INDvsAUS rivalry and the Men in Blue settling scores for the 1-2 series loss earlier this year on home soil.

What you need to do: Stay hydrated whilst letting your lungs out to support and BELIEVE in India’s victory. Dress up in your BLUE attire and paint Mohali, Indore and Rajkot in the Tricolour.

India vs Australia: Numbers Talk

Squads

India:

First two ODIs: KL Rahul (captain and wicket-keeper), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, Tilak Varma, Prasidh Krishna, Ravichandran Ashwin, Washington Sundar.

Third ODI: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, KL Rahul (wicket-keeper), Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, Hardik Pandya, Virat Kohli, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel (subject to fitness), Ravichandran Ashwin, Washington Sundar.

Australia: Pat Cummins (captain), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey (wicket-keeper), Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Matthew Short, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa