'He and Shubman will be opening the innings' - India stand-in captain Hardik Pandya reveals Shubman Gill's opening partner for upcoming ODIs vs Australia

Team India's regular captain, Rohit Sharma, won't be available for the first One Day International (ODI) against Australia because of personal obligations. India is preparing to resume its ODI World Cup preparations, and vice-captain Hardik Pandya will command the team.

Pandya will captain India for the first time in his illustrious white-ball career in the 50-over format. Pandya has served as India's second-choice T20I captain in Rohit's absence. After the T20 World Cup, the white-ball maverick took KL Rahul's spot as India's vice-captain in the limited-overs format.

‘We will be trying to be a little brave’ – Hardik Pandya

Ishan Kishan and an effective Shubman Gill will open the batting for the hosts; stand-in skipper Pandya told reporters at the customary news conference prior to the first ODI between India and Australia. Friday's first One-Day International of the three-match series will take place at the Wankhede Stadium between Pandya's India and Steve Smith's Australia.

"Ishan and Shubman will be opening the innings. The wicket looks how it does throughout the year. I have been playing here for almost seven years. It is going to be challenging because this wicket will give equal opportunities to both the sides," Pandya told the media.

"I don't think we have tried anything new. We will be trying to be a little brave, which I think in the last couple of series we have done quite well. All these bilaterals are as challenging; they can get as close to the wire as they can. That is the only way we are going to learn and start playing under pressure of knockouts (in major tournaments). (But) we don't need to look at that right now, the past is past, and we are hoping for the best things to come," he added.

India has excelled in bilateral matches, but the Asian superpowers have struggled to win the previous major competitions. In the 20-20 World Cup semi-final last year, eventual champion England handed India a painful loss. Team India had already secured their place in the upcoming Global Test Championship final before they prepare to take on Australia in the forthcoming ODI series.