IND vs AUS: India playing XI vs Australia, Match 5, ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 - Predicted

India will face Australia in fifth match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 on Sunday in Chennai.

The ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 got underway on October 5 with a game between England and New Zealand. The tournament will have one big game that will have two former champions facing each other. Team India will lock horns with Australia at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, on Sunday, October 8.

This game is very important for both teams to get momentum for the rest of the tournament. India and Australia played three ODIs last month that ended in a 2-1 victory for India. Both teams have some big names in the line-up, and it will be an exciting game to watch. Here we will talk about the predicted playing XI for India on Sunday against Australia.

IND vs AUS: India's Predicted playing XI vs Australia

1. Rohit Sharma (C) :

Indian captain Rohit Sharma will be a very big wicket at the top because his presence at the crease will mean that India are scoring over 6 runs per over on a difficult pitch in Chennai. Rohit will play his first World Cup game as captain and will be looking to give India a good start.

2. Shubman Gill / Ishan Kishan :

Shubman Gill is in the form of his life and has been the highest scorer in 2023 across formats. He scored a century and a half-century in two ODIs against Australia and was the highest run-getter. His wicket will be very important because he plays big innings.

Though Gill is the first-choice opener, he suffered from dengue and is doubtful for Sunday. Thus, Ishan Kishan might get a chance at the top if Gill is ruled out. The left-hander is another Indian batter in good form. He batted in the middle-order but can bat at the top in Gill's absence, which will also give India a left-hand and right-hand combination at the top.

3. Virat Kohli :

Virat Kohli returned in the third ODI against Australia and scored a fifty in the chase. He looked good in Asia Cup as well. Virat will be a key player for India in the middle order because he has been India's best batter in the last decade or so. The former Indian captain will look to start well and score big to help the team win.

4. Shreyas Iyer :

Shreyas Iyer looked good in the ODI series against Australia and also scored a century. He is good against spin, which will be the main ingredient in Chennai. Iyer can play attacking cricket against the spinner as well, which is why he is an important player in Indian middle-order. Iyer will look to do well on his World Cup debut.

5. KL Rahul (Wk) :

KL Rahul's presence in the middle-order has certainly strengthened India's batting line-up. He has been in great form since making his comeback in Indian team. Rahul will hold a key for India in case the top-order fails. He recently showed good form against Australia and will be looking to deliver the same kind of form.

6. Hardik Pandya :

The star all-rounder, Hardik Pandya, will be back after missing out in three ODIs against Australia. But prior to that, he was in good form with both the bat and the ball in Asia Cup. Hardik gives a great balance to the team, and in Chennai, he is likely to play as a third seamer if India goes with three spinners.

7. Ravindra Jadeja :

Ravindra Jadeja's role will become more important because he has been playing in Chennai for CSK for almost a decade. He knows how the pitch behaves and helps the bowlers. Jadeja's bowling will have an important role, and then his batting down the order might be required on the difficult pitch for India.

8. Ravichandran Ashwin :

Veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin will be another spinner who is likely to play in Chennai. Ashwin grew up playing in Chennai and is the local boy, and India will expect him to do well. He took four wickets in two matches against Australia and will be a challenge for men in yellow.

9. Kuldeep Yadav :

Kuldeep Yadav will be a key weapon for India on the turning pitch in Chennai. He was the man of the tournament in Asia Cup and picked up the most wickets for the team. Kuldeep has picked up the most wickets for India in 2023, and his form will decide a lot in the middle-overs. His ability to pick up wickets in the middle-overs can put pressure on Australians.

10. Jasprit Bumrah :

Jasprit Bumrah will be leading India's bowling attack in the power-play and in the death overs. He is the strike bowler, and Australia know about the threat he brings to the game. Bumrah has shown good form since his comeback, and he is one of the most impactful players for India in this World Cup 2023.

11. Mohammed Siraj :

Mohammed Siraj is likely to be the second-choice pacer for India and will be another strike bowler for the team. Siraj's form has been one of the reasons that India have done well in recent times. He can hit the deck hard, and with a swing, he is totally a different bowler. Australia have seen him in the past, and he can be a lethal bowler.