India vs Australia | Ambati Rayudu will have competition from KL Rahul, opines Sunil Gavaskar

India and Australia are all set to switch to the 50-over format from today with the first game of the series in Hyderabad. The Indian team will want to get their combination right ahead of the World Cup in the series against the Aussies which is going to be their last series before the global event.

The most important batting position which is the point of discussion at the moment is No. 4 and according to former captain Sunil Gavaskar, KL Rahul’s impressive comeback will help him give a tough competition to Ambati Rayudu for a place in the team.

“The main point of interest will be who occupies the No. 4 position in the Indian batting line-up. Ambati Rayudu played a capital innings in the final one-day game in New Zealand and is the front runner for that,” Gavaskar wrote in his column for TOI.

“He (Rayudu) will have competition from KL Rahul, who has shown a pleasing return to form in the just-concluded T20I series. On the familiar pitches at home, Rahul looks a completely different batsman as he dominates the opposition bowlers almost at will.”

After losing the T20I series, the Men in Blue will now focus on the 50-over matches to remain confident before the start of the World Cup. They will kick start their ODI series against Australia in Hyderabad and Gavaskar has underlined the fact that Virat Kohli and Co. will want to win the last series before the World Cup. 

“After the chastening loss of the T20I series, India will look to get their mojo back in the one-dayers. There won’t be much experimentation like in the T20Is as India would want to win the last big series before the World Cup,” the former opener said.

“The Australians will be buoyed by their T20I series win, their first big win in the subcontinent after a long time. Glenn Maxwell was simply superb as he smashed a century of the highest class.”