Australia’s Inglis, Zampa to Miss ODI Series Opener Against India

In a significant shake-up to their lineup, Australia will be without key players Josh Inglis and Adam Zampa for the opening One-Day International against India this Sunday.

Wicket-keeper Josh Inglis has been ruled out as he continues to recover from a calf strain that also saw him miss Australia’s recent tour of New Zealand. In a further setback, leg-spinner Adam Zampa will be unavailable for the first match due to family reasons.

To cover for these absences, the Australian selectors have added wicket-keeper Josh Philippe and spinner Matthew Kuhnemann to their squad for the series opener.

This creates a clear opportunity for Philippe, who last played an ODI against the West Indies in 2021, to don the gloves. The hosts are also without their primary keeper, Alex Carey, who is playing in a Sheffield Shield match for South Australia as part of his preparation for the upcoming Ashes series.

A Cricket Australia spokesperson indicated that while Carey will rejoin the squad for the second ODI, there is hope that Josh Inglis will be fit and available for the third and final match in Sydney on October 25.

With Zampa absent, Matthew Kuhnemann is now in line to play his first ODI since 2022. He will compete with all-round options Matt Short and Cooper Connolly for a spin bowling role in the playing eleven. The team expects Zampa to be available again for the second ODI in Adelaide.

This news comes after India announced a strong squad for the series, which includes the returning senior duo of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, setting the stage for a compelling contest despite the last-minute Australian changes.

                                               

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