India are promising to play “hard, aggressive” cricket when they emerge from coronavirus quarantine to face Australia in a blockbuster limited-over series beginning in Sydney on Friday, reports AFP.
The first of three ODIs, followed by three Twenty20s next week, comes after the visitors had to endure wrangling over quarantine requirements and an outbreak of the virus in Melbourne, which delayed confirmation of the tour until just weeks ago.
Virat Kohli’s squad have been in isolation since their arrival a fortnight ago, although they have been allowed to train within a bio-secure bubble.
It has been an equally odd build-up for Aaron Finch’s Australia, with the likes of David Warner, Steve Smith and Pat Cummins, who played in the Indian Premier League, also undergoing the mandatory 14 days of quarantine, which ended Thursday.
The lack of international cricket this year makes it hard to determine form, although Australia head into the white-ball series on the back of beating 50-over world champions England in September.
India haven’t played together since a tour of New Zealand in February, when they clinched the Twenty20 series but were whitewashed 3-0 in the ODIs.
But they can take solace from winning their last Test and ODI series in Australia two summers ago, although Smith and Warner were banned for ball-tampering.
“I think it’s important to start well in the white-ball series,” said KL Rahul, who has been elevated to vice-captain.
“We are playing for the country after a while and we are all excited to play some hard cricket, some aggressive cricket.”
While a tough series is anticipated, Australia coach Justin Langer insisted it will be played in the right spirit, with his team’s days of harsh sledging behind them.
“There’s plenty of room for banter, having fun and having that competitive instinct but there’s no room for abuse,” he insisted.
