Kohli or Warner? Bumrah or Starc? Who makes our combined Australia-India XI

Ahead of the three-match ODI series between Australia and India, The Cricketer considers who would make a combined XI between the two sides

David Warner (Australia)

After a slow start to his Indian Premier League campaign, David Warner found his groove: only two players scored more runs in the competition and, once again, he played a pivotal role in driving his Sunrisers Hyderabad side forward.

That tournament came on the back of a struggle during a white-ball tour of England. However, there are few more dangerous than the left-hander in his own conditions.

Aaron Finch (Australia)

Ranked seventh in the ICC’s ODI batting rankings, Aaron Finch certainly knows his stuff and is a proven match winner.

A powerful hitter at the top of the order, Finch makes the game look extremely easy. Although, he had a difficult time in England – only scoring 101 runs in three matches, including 73 in the second ODI which Australia lost by 24 runs.

Virat Kohli (India)

Virat Kohli is one of those players that doesn’t need any introduction; an all-round great bad, fielder and leader. There isn’t much else to add.

In the series between these two sides at the start of the year, Kohli scored 183 runs at an average of 61 and a top-score of 89. Only Steven Smith bettered him. He’ll be looking to lead his side to another series win this time around.

^{Virat Kohli is ranked number one in the ICC's ODI batting rankings}

Steven Smith (Australia)

Top-scoring in the series between India and Australia earlier in the year, Steven Smith is one to keep an eye on in the upcoming series.

Smith missed Australia’s most recent ODI series in England due to injury but he’ll be looking forward to getting out onto the park and entertaining us with the bat and his trademark idiosyncrasies. He’ll be looking to help his side overcome India on home soil.

KL Rahul (India)

Batting in the middle order is going to be no easy feat for India given the quality of the Australian bowling attack, but there is no doubt that KL Rahul will rise to the challenge.

Despite being an opening batsman by trade, Rahul was moved into the middle order earlier in the year to add strength. He averaged 48.88 in the series against Australia earlier in the year.

Alex Carey (Australia)

With the retirement of MS Dhoni, Alex Carey makes our team to wear the gloves.

Averaging 35.72 in ODI cricket, Carey is useful in the middle order. With one century and four fifties in his 39 matches so far, he has proven that he has what it takes to perform on the international stage. He heads into this series off the back of a quiet IPL campaign. Carey played three matches and only scored 32 runs.

Glenn Maxwell (Australia)

Carded at seven in our team, but can bat anywhere; Glenn Maxwell has the all-round talent that any team would love.

Explosive with the bat, Maxwell can also hang around and play to the situation – cast your mind back to the recent series against England; Australia were in trouble but a mammoth stand with Carey led the team to victory. He also bowls handy off-spin and compliments Adam Zampa, mixing things up a little if needed.

^{Glenn Maxwell scored 108 in the final ODI against England in September}

Ravindra Jadeja (India)

Our main spinner. Ravindra Jadeja is dangerous with his off-spin and poses a threat every time he has a cricket ball in his hand, striking fear into many a batsman.

In his ODI career so far, Jadeja has taken 187 wickets in 165 matches with career-best figures of 5-36. He is no mug with the bat either, having hit 2,296 runs at an average of 31.88.

Jasprit Bumrah (India)

He may have an awkward action, but Jasprit Bumrah will be India’s main threat.

On hard, bouncy Australian pitches, Bumrah should thrive – extracting bounce and making life difficult for the Australian batsmen. In the Test series between the two sides in 2018/19, Bumrah was the leading wicket taker, with 21 in four matches. He knows how to make a nuisance if himself.

Josh Hazlewood (Australia)

Ranked seventh in the ICC’s ODI bowling rankings, Josh Hazlewood can be dangerous opening the bowling for his country.

In the series against England he took four wickets with best figures of 3-26. In the recent IPL, he played three matches for Chennai Super Kings, having a quiet competition. He’ll be fired up and raring to go when the series begins.

Pat Cummins (Australia)

Pat Cummins is just ahead of Hazlewood in the ICC rankings, and as a first change bowler he often backs up what Starc and Hazlewood do, not giving the batsmen any wriggle room.

At the recent IPL he had a fair-to-middling campaign, bagging 12 wickets in 14 matches – four of which came against Rajasthan Royals in the last match. With two of the three ODIs being held on his home ground at the SCG, Cummins will be looking to find form at his happy place.

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