Australia vs India 1st ODI Betting Tips, Predictions & Odds - KL Rahul backed to lead India’s fight against Australia

Australia welcome India to the SCG for the 1st ODI of a three-match series on Friday. It has been a much anticipated tour with two evenly matched outfits going full tilt against each other.

There may have been a lack of international cricket in recent months, but the recently completed IPL offers enough insight into the form of both batsmen and bowlers on both sides. 

Australia have not had the best of years in ODI cricket after losing five of their seven matches before COVID-19 brought a halt to cricket globally. They did however return in September to beat England 2-1 in a three-match series.

All three matches were played at Old Trafford in Manchester with Australia winning the first by 19 runs and losing the 2nd ODI by 24 runs.

England were cruising to victory in the 3rd ODI amassing 302 runs. It could have been a lot worse had Adam Zampa not bowled superbly for figures of 3-51.

Australia struggled to get going and at 73-5 looked dead and buried. That was until Glenn Maxwell and Alex Carey put on a 212 run partnership, Maxwell scoring 108 and Carey 106 runs as the Aussies won by three wickets with two balls to spare.

Australia have no injury concerns and will almost certainly go into the 1st ODI at full strength.

Over the course of the series the Aussies are likely to give all rounders Cameron Green and Daniel Sams a run, but there has been no indication that it will be in the 1st ODI.

India have only played six ODI matches in 2020 of which they have won two and lost four. The Indians come into this match off the back of a 3-0 series loss in New Zealand in February.

New Zealand won the 1st ODI by four wickets and the 2nd ODI by 22 runs to take an unassailable 2-0 lead.

In the 3rd ODI India batted first and scored 296 runs. The in-form KL Rahul scored 112 runs while Shreyas Iyer contributed 62. The Black Caps cruised to a five-wicket victory with three overs to spare.

India welcome back opening batsmen Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan after they missed the tour of New Zealand earlier this year. Sharma however has an injury cloud hanging over his head.

Should Sharma not be passed fit for the 1st ODI, India could continue with Mayank Agarwal at the top of the order. KL Rahul is another option but he has batted superbly in the middle order so there may be reluctance to move him.

India have won three of their last five ODIs against Australia. Their last encounter took place in January this year where Australia scored 286 and India chased it down to win by seven wickets in Bengaluru.

Australia are 1.61 favourites with India paying 2.20 with bet365. 

David Warner is valued at 3.75 to be Australia’s best batsman while Virat Kohli offers odds of 3.20 for India.

This is a true clash of the titans and a series many have been waiting for. India and Australia both look formidable outfits with very good batting line-ups and world class bowlers.

India probably have the edge on the batting front but in Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins Australia possess two bowlers who can win a game on their own.