India v Australia combined ODI XI: Who joins Steve Smith and Rohit Sharma?

Ahead of the ODI series between India and Australia, The Cricketer considers who would make a combined XI between the two sides

India and Australia are set to meet in a three-match ODI series following the conclusion of the 2023 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

The Cricketer considers who would make a combined XI...

Rohit Sharma 

9,782 runs at 48.91 (30 centuries, 48 half-centuries)

Sharma is one of the all-time greats in white-ball cricket and the current captain of India in the shorter formats. He boasts an average a shade under 50 in ODIs as well as a strike rate of 89.89. The India skipper scored 101 runs in his last ODI against New Zealand and has an average of  in 2023. Sharma has enjoyed himself against Australia in the past, averaging 54.66, while on home soil, he averages 59.17.

David Warner 

6,007 runs at 45.16 (19 centuries, 27 half-centuries)

Warner has opened the batting for Australia in all formats for the best part of a decade and it's no surprise why. He currently sits 10th in Australia's all-time run-scoring charts in ODI cricket and averages 45.16. However, it's his raw power and aggressive scoring which makes him a real asset at the top of the order - of Australian players to score over 5,000 ODI runs, only Adam Gilchrist and Andrew Symonds have a better strike rate than Warner's 95.25. In eight innings in India, he has scored 391 runs at 55.85.

Steve Smith  

4,917 runs at 45.11 (12 centuries, 29 half-centuries)

With Pat Cummins ruled out of the series, Steve Smith is set to captain Australia and he is the perfect fit to bat at No.3 in his side thanks to his ability to post a big knock while also scoring briskly. The 33-year-old has scored one century and three half-centuries in his past five ODI innings and also has an excellent record in India, scoring 399 runs at 49.87 in 13 innings.

^{Steve Smith [Cameron Spencer/Getty Images]}

Virat Kohli  

12,809 runs at 57.69 (46 centuries, 64 half-centuries)

Who else could come in at No.4 in this team other than Kolhi? The former India captain needs just four centuries to overtake Sachin Tendulkar's haul of 49 hundreds and currently sits fifth in the all-time leading run-scoring charts in the format. In India, Kohli averages 58.87 while eight of 46 centuries have come against Australia. In 2023, he has scored 338 runs in six innings, including a knock of 166 not out against Sri Lanka - his highest score on home soil.

Glenn Maxwell 

3,482 runs at 34.13 (2 centuries, 23 half-centuries); 60 wickets at 50.11, 5.57 economy

Maxwell is a very dangerous player in the middle order, with a strike rate of 124.98 and an average of 34.13. The allrounder also provides an extra spin-bowling option - he bowls right-arm off-spin - which, in a country where spin is often crucial in the outcome of matches, gives him the edge over his explosive teammate Marcus Stoinis.

Hardik Pandya 

1,518 runs at 33.73 (9 half-centuries); 68 wickets at 38.52, 5.59 economy

India are spoiled for choice when it comes to allrounders but Pandya, their vice-captain, is one of the best in the business. The right-hander is a powerful middle-order batter, with a strike rate of 113.28 in ODI cricket. With the ball, he has picked up 68 wickets and has a healthy economy of 5.59. Though Australia allrounder Cameron Green is a precocious talent, Pandya earns a spot thanks to his vast experience.

^{Ravindra Jadeja [Lindsey Parnaby/Getty Images]}

Alex Carey (wk)

1,629 runs at 35.41 (1 century, 7 half-centuries); 71 catches & 8 stumpings

Carey is a fantastic wicketkeeper and a handy operator in the middle order. He has been a mainstay of Australia's ODI side since 2018, averaging 35.41 and striking around 88. Of course, ordinarily this spot would be occupied by the destructive Rishabh Pant but he will miss the series due to injuries sustained in a car crash

Ravindra Jadeja  

2,447 runs at 32.62 (13 half-centuries); 189 wickets at 37.36, 4.92 economy

Jadeja is an allrounder who makes things happen, as his career stats - nearly 2,500 runs and just shy of 200 wickets - illustrate. However, he has a third string to his bow as one of the most dynamic fielders in cricket. He's never quite produced his best with the bat on home soil, averaging 27.78, but always thrives with ball in hand, taking 89 wickets at 31.02 in Indian conditions.

Mitchell Starc 

211 wickets at 22.13, 5.08 economy

One of Australia's best fast bowlers, Starc troubles batters with his left-arm action, tall frame and ability to swing the ball. Among Australian bowlers, only Adam Zampa took more wickets in 2022 than Starc, who picked up 16 wickets and maintained an economy of 4.25 in eight matches. He has taken 17 wickets against India across his career while his best figures on Indian soil are 3 for 56.

^{Mitchell Starc [Cameron Spencer/Getty Images]}

Mohammed Siraj 

38 wickets at 20.73, 4.61 economy

Siraj is a very passionate bowler who has a knack of picking up important wickets at the right time and also has an excellent economy of 4.61 in his ODI career. Since the beginning of 2022, no one has taken more ODI wickets for India than the 29-year-old - his has 38 wickets at 18.73 while second-placed Shardul Thakur has 28. He has also taken two four-fors in his past three ODIs.

Mohammed Shami  

159 wickets at 25.95, 5.6 economy

Shami is a nightmare to face for batters because of his accuracy and the skiddy nature of his deliveries. A highly experienced operator, he has taken over 150 ODI wickets and maintained an economy below six. When Australia visited India in 2020, he topped the wicket-taking charts with seven dismissals. 

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