Team India began this year’s ODI World Cup (October-November) preparations at the same iconic venue—Wankhede Stadium—on Wednesday where MS Dhoni’s team clinched the coveted trophy in 2011. India and Australia will clash in the first of the three ODIs on Friday after a decent practice session on Wankhede’s red-soil pitches.   

Hardik call the shots

With regular skipper Rohit Sharma missing the first ODI due family commitments, stand-in-captain Hardik Pandya didn’t waste a single minute to start activities as soon as he entered the ground. He initiated the session bowling with speedster Umran Malik to left-hander Ishan Kishan. Both pacers bowled to Suryakumar Yadav for a good amount of time. The all-rounder then took guard against pacers Shardul Thakur and Malik and had some big hits against off-spinner spinner Washington Sundar. Surprisingly, Hardik also bowled some leg-spin to Suryakumar.