Australia’s ODI tour of India will begin on Sunday with the first game in the seven-match series at Baroda. The day-game will see the two sides clash for the first time in an ODI after their Champions Trophy game which had to be abandoned due to rain.

Despite playing in India – and captain Ricky Ponting accepted it is never easy doing that – the Aussies will come into the series having lost only one game in their last 12. They had won the ODI series against England by a whopping 6-1 margin, whereas the Champions Trophy campaign had seen them triumph without dropping a single game. They will go into the game as favourites to win it – 5/6 at Coral – as compared to India who are marginally second, at 1/1 at 888Sport.

The one reason why the bookies think that there is not too much difference between the two sides is the home advantage that India may have from the pitches. The Aussies have already lost Michael Clarke and Callum Ferguson to injuries, and with Michael Hussey (11/2 at Stan James to top the batting) battling form-related issues, the batting could seem a trifle weak. Ponting’s good run of form, after he had been afforded a break from the initial bit of the English ODIs has proved a good enough battery-recharger for him and William Hill offers 7/2 for him to be the best batsman in the game. Shane Watson (4/1 at BetFred to be Australia’s best batsman) is only marginally behind Ponting, thanks to his back-to-back centuries in the Champions Trophy, while Adam Voges (9/1 at Boylesport to become their batsman), will, in all probabilities get his chance to bat in the middle order.

Team India will welcome the return of Virender Sehwag (7/2 at BetFred) and Yuvraj Singh (5/1 at Coral) – both, to top the batting – but it is not yet known whether Yuvraj will actually play this game. On the other hand, M.S.Dhoni (6/1 at Sky Bet to be the best batsman for India) had hurt his knee during the practice nets, and the last one heard, there was a doubt over his participation in the game as well. Gautam Gambhir had a wretched Champions League tournament with the bat, and he will look to make amends and top the Indian batting. Sky Bet offers 9/2 for him to do so.

The Indian selectors have dropped Rahul Dravid for this series, and this means that the only senior batsman in the side is Sachin Tendulkar. Tendulkar got only one opportunity to bat in the Champions Trophy, but was the best batsman on display during the Compaq series before that. The Indian side will look up to him to provide them with a positive start, such that the middle-order then can play their natural game around him and Boylesports offers 7/2 for him to top the batting for India.

Tips:

Favourites: Australia (5/6 at Coral)

Top Australian batsman: Ricky Ponting (7/2 at William Hill)

Top Indian batsman: Sachin Tendulkar (7/2 at Boylesports)