EXPLAINED! Why Hardik Pandya Gifted Plotted Plant To Steve Smith At The Toss For 1st ODI?

New Delhi: Hardik Pandya gifted Steve Smith a plotted plant during the toss at the first ODI. The move was done to start the BCCI’s initiative to restore the environment. Meanwhile, India won the toss and opted to field. In the absence of Rohit Sharma, India selected Ishan Kishan to open alongside Shubman Gill. Kl Rahul was also selected and slotted to bat at number five. India went in with four pacers, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami and Hardik Pandya, and Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav as spinners.

For Australia, David Warner missed out  due to not being fully fit. The likes of Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglish, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Marsh, Sean Abbott, Adam Zampa returned to the ODI team.

“We’ll bowl first. It is a good track and dew factor will be there. We feel we will do well in the second innings. I got some time off, breaks are like gold dust for me so it gave me a chance to rest and improve. Playing for India every game and every format is important. With this being a WC year, the ODI format is important. We’ve gone with four quicks – Shardul, Shami, myself and Siraj. Two spinners in Jadeja and Kuldeep,” said Hardik at the toss.

Australia (Playing XI): Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith(c), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis(w), Cameron Green, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Sean Abbott, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa

India (Playing XI): Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan(w), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya(c), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami