India vs Australia 2023, 3rd ODI – Match Prediction

India will lock horns against Australia in the third ODI of the series at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot on Wednesday. This will be the last competitive match for both of these teams before they once again take on each other in their World Cup opening match.

India has taken an impregnable lead of 2-0 in the series after winning the first two matches convincingly. The likes of skipper Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and Kuldeep Yadav are expected to return to the team’s playing XI whereas Shubman Gill and Shardul Thakur have been rested for the final ODI, with Axar Patel being ruled out.

Shreyas Iyer scored a fine knock of 105 runs in the previous game and this knock must have added a shot in his arm. Iyer’s knock has also added to the selection dilemma in the middle order for the World Cup.

Australia, on the other hand, will look to pull up their socks in the bowling department. The visitors conceded 399 runs in the second ODI and they will aim to come up with a better performance. The tourists have lost their last five matches and they will look to enter the World Cup with a win on their side.

The likes of David Warner, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Pat Cummins will have to step up for Australia before the ODI showpiece.

Match Prediction: India will enter the contest as favorites against Australia.

India squad: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, R Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, J Bumrah, M Siraj, M Shami, Hardik Pandya, Virat Kohli, Kuldeep Yadav, R Ashwin, Washington Sundar.

Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa