Pune: Fresh from T20 win, India, a dominant force and ranked one in ODI, would be more than eager to decimate inexperienced Australian side in a seven-match series, beginning here tomorrow and retain top position.
Barring losing a three match series to Pakistan at the start of 2013, the year has been excellent for India in One-day format this year as the world champion has won series after series.
The visitors are without their inspiring captain Michael Clarke who is struggling with back problem even though their batsmen gave a good account of themselves in the one-off Twenty20 in Rajkot.
Australia are at number two in ICC ranking and if they have to climb up, they need to beat India by 6-1 margin which, going by the form of the team, looks quite unlikely. Though Australia did beat England in ODIs post their Ashes debacle but in home conditions, India are a tough nut to crack.
Despite coming good with the bat, the Australian attack looks vulnerable when taken on by the Indian batsmen. It would be hard for Australian bowlers to erase the memory of the comeback-man Yuvraj Singh who tore them apart with his blitzy 35-ball 77.
Ever since Shan Warne has retired, the Australians are lacking a quality and effective spinner in their attack. The pacemen need to come up with something very special in Indian conditions to stop the rampaging Indian batting line up.
Despite a tremendous win in one off T20, Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has reasons to worry about bowling as well. Paceman Ishant Sharma and spinner R Aswhin were carted around by the Australians in T20.
Ashwin, usually a reliable bowler, was hammered for 41 runs in his two overs and Sharma conceded 52 in his four.
