Hardik Pandya reveals that Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan would open in the first ODI between India and Australia.

Hardik Pandya, India’s stand-in captain, has revealed the opening partnership for the upcoming ODI against Australia. The three-match ODI series between the two cricketing powerhouses is slated to begin on Friday, March 17.

Hardik Pandya revealed prior to the first ODI that Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan will open for the Men in Blue. Importantly, Hardik is leading the team in the absence of regular captain Rohit Sharma, who is absent due to family obligations.

In the three-match ODI series against New Zealand, Gill enjoyed an outstanding performance, scoring a double-century and a hundred. Kishan, on the other hand, had a disappointing series against the Kiwis, as he returned a succession of poor scores. Given that the 2023 ODI World Cup is quickly approaching, the duo will be eager to score crucial runs and solidify their positions in the team.
Hardik Pandya withdraws from the WTC Final.
Team India’s recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy victory over Australia, with a score of 2-1, sealed their position in the ICC World Test Championship 2021-23 cycle’s championship match. New Zealand’s last-ball thriller over Sri Lanka in their Test helped Rohit Sharma and company advance to the red-ball ICC event final.

The summit battle between India and Australia will now take place at The Oval, starting on June 7. Hardik Pandya has ruled himself out of the WTC Final, stating that it would be ‘unethical’ for him to participate given his minimal contribution to India’s red-ball success.

“No. I am a morally powerful individual. I have not completed 10% of the necessary work to get there. I do not even constitute 1%. So, it would not be ethical for me to go there and take someone’s place. If I want to play Test cricket, I will work hard and earn my position. “Thus, I will not be available for the WTC final or any future Test series until I feel I have earned my position,” Pandya explained.