The India vs Australia match is going to be a tough start in the Cricket World Cup for both these sides while it is also true that the winner of this clash will get the much-needed winning momentum with them after having crossed a big obstacle. Starting with India, there is a huge concern in the camp related to the fitness and availability of Shubman Gill. He is down with fever and may miss the host nation’s opening game.

However, India do have an able replacement in form of Ishan Kishan. They have benefitted by opting for a rotation policy of players over the period of the last year or so. Kishan has played a good amount of cricket leading up to the World Cup and one assumes that he will open the innings with Rohit Sharma if Shubman fails to recover in time.

There is an added advantage to this situation as well with a left-hand option available at the top. India do not have any left-handers in the top order in their first choice XI. Kishan, in that regard, can bring some difference at the top. Kishan has done this job before, also smashing a double hundred last year while opening the innings. He has the ability and class to make an impact at the top.

All eyes will be on the surface too in Chennai. Historically, it has been a slow and low turner. The venue can produce other kind of pitches as well. So, it will be the final look at the surface which will decide the XI. For me, from India’s perspective, the fight for the Number 8 spot will be between Shardul Thakur and R Ashwin. Who plays among these two will depend upon the surface. If there is an element of spin in the track, I will be very surprised if India don’t go with the spin of Ashwin. They have got enough batting there, anyway.

India are in a very strong place coming into the World Cup. These two sides know each other very well. They have played recently against each other and know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. India and Australia will be a huge challenge for each other, and it is nice to get tested like that so early into the tournament.

As far as Australia are concerned, what favours Pat Cummins and Co is their great understanding of the Indian conditions. Most of their players take part in the Indian Premier League, which obviously helps them a lot. Several Aussies will be familiar to the surface at Chennai. Josh Hazlewood, who played for Chennai Super Kings, should know this surface more than the others and this information may come handy for the Australians.

Additionally, Australia have got players who are akin to the conditions. The squad has quality all-rounders. It has got depth and balance with the all -rounders.

However, with Travis Head still unfit, I feel they are starting the tournament with a batter short at the top going into potentially difficult batting conditions in Chennai. It will be a real challenge for Australia if the Chennai surface is low and turning.

Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah look like the first-choice pacers for India, and they have been bowling superbly with the new ball. The Australian top order must be careful against these two. The quality of India’s new-ball attack can lead to Australia finding themselves in a tough situation with two or three wickets lost in the first six overs, that will be a huge challenge for the rest of the batters to overcome. Australia may find it hard to make a comeback from that position. The battle between Siraj Bumrah vs Warner, Smith and Marsh will be an interesting one to watch out for.

In my view, Glenn Maxwell is going to be a key player for Australia with both bat and ball. I would be bringing Maxwell up to give depth to the batting order. That might be something they can consider. Maxwell, the bowler, could be crucial on this surface. Adam Zampa is the only frontline spinner in the squad and knows the conditions well. But he will need help from the other end and Maxwell can provide that.

Australia have plenty of players in form. Mitchell Marsh has got runs of late and David Warner has been in good touch. They rely heavily on Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne. If they lose two or three wickets early, it will be interesting to see how Australia cope up with the lineup they have now.

With the ball, there is no lack of class. Cummins is quality and Mitchell Starc has a knack of picking wickets with the new ball in his first spell.

As I said earlier, it cannot get tougher for both these sides right at the start of the tournament. But the sides who get through will know they have gone past one of their major competitors in this stage of the tournament.