According to T20I captain Mitchell Marsh, playing World No. 1 India, with whom Australian players have a “great rivalry,” is the ideal prelude to the prestigious Ashes series later this year.
In lieu of normal 50-overs captain Pat Cummins, who is still recovering from a back ailment, Marsh will lead Australia in three ODIs against India beginning on October 19 and a five-match T20I series.
“We’ll have all the guys building towards the Ashes but everyone loves playing against India,” Marsh was quoted as saying by foxsports.com.au.
“We’ve got a great rivalry and great respect for them as a team. I think it’s literally perfect timing to be playing against India in the lead-up to an Ashes series. It’s going to be massive,” he added.
Both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who last played for India in February, will make their international comebacks during the ODI series.
Cummins is still doubtful for the November 21 Ashes opener in Perth, but Marsh is one of the players vying for a spot in the first Test of the five-match series.
On October 23 and 25, respectively, Adelaide and Sydney will host the second and third One-Day Internationals (ODIs) in India’s tour of Australia.
