Aus 137-9 (21 ovs); D/L Target: 164 in 21 ovs | Scorecard

Hardik Pandya and Mahendra Singh Dhoni hit half-centuries before a fine showing from their bowlers saw India outclass Australia by 26 runs in the rain-hit opening ODI in Chennai, on Sunday.

India were reeling on 87 for five before Pandya stroked 83 from 66 balls, adding 118 runs for the sixth wicket with Dhoni, to lead India's recovery after a horror start and power them to 281 for seven in their 50 overs.

In reply, Australia never got going with the bat and were bowled out for 134 after being set a revised target of 164 runs in 21 overs following a rain delay of nearly two and half hours.

Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal was the pick of the bowlers for India as he claimed three for 30, while Kuldeep Yadav and Hardik Pandya picked up two wickets each.

Aus 137-9 (21 ovs); D/L Target: 164 in 21 ovs | Scorecard

Bumrah is back into the attack. Faulkner goes hard at the first ball but gets a thick outside edge which goes through the vacant slip region for a four.

He smashes the next ball straight down the ground but gets only one as the ball hits the stumps at the non-striker's end.

Bumrah looking to bowl it right up and not give the batsmen anything to work it.

The young pacer deceives Coulter-Nile with slower balls twice in a row, leaving Australia to get 39 from the last two overs for victory.

The situation has got desperate for Australia and Coulter-Nile swings his arms in hope. But he only manages to loft Bhuvneshwar into the hands of Jadhav at deep midwicket to perish for two.

Bumrah to bowl the final over with 34 needed for victory.

Faulkner hits the first ball to deep midwicket and refuses the single. The next ball is a slower delivery as Faulkner throws his bat but gets an outside edge.

Wicketkeeper Dhoni does well to dive to his right and take the catch but the umpire is not sure and refers it upstairs.

Dhoni seems to have got to the ball but it touched the ground before Dhoni could pouch it in his gloves and so Faulkner stays on.

But the match is out of Australia's reach with 34 needed from four balls.

Aus 118-8 (18 ovs); D/L Target: 164 in 21 ovs | Scorecard

Bhuvneshwar comes into the attack. Faulkner hits one down the ground as Pandey at long-on fails to collect the ball cleanly to give away three runs.

Two singles before Cummins slogs one over midwicket for a boundary and two balls later Faulkner drills one through the same region for two runs.

Chahal to bowl his fifth over. Cummins has another wild swing across the line but gets a thick outside edge and is caught at thirdman for nine.

Faulkner lofts the next ball back over the bowler's head for a six followed by four singles to get 10 from the over.

Chahal finishes with superb figures of three for 30 in five overs.

Australia are 118 for eight in 18 overs, needing 46 from three overs for victory.

Aus 97-7 (16 ovs); D/L Target: 164 in 21 ovs | Scorecard

Faulkner looks to swing Chahal across the line but only ends up lobbing a simple catch on the leg side. However, Chahal fails to hold on to a simple to his left.

But he strikes off the very next ball with the wicket of Wade for nine. The left-hander comes down the track but is beaten by the googly and Dhoni has no problems in completing an easy stumping.

Pat Cummins gets an edge past the slips as he looks to drive Chahal for two runs to thirdman before Rahane puts down a tough catch diving forward at long-off.

Aus 91-6 (15 ovs); D/L Target: 164 in 21 ovs | Scorecard

Kuldeep is unlucky as Stoinis is dropped by Dhoni as he fails to read the googly and gets an edge.

A rare drop by Dhoni but Kuldeep gets his man two balls later as Stoinis goes for the slog sweep but is caught at deep midwicket by substitute fielder Ravindra Jadeja.

Matthew Wade gets a lifeline as he looks to hit it straight but Chahal fails to hold on a sharp catch. He crashes the next ball through midwicket for a much-needed boundary for Australia, who are struggling to keep up with the asking rate.

The boundaries have dried up as Faulkner and Wade can only pick up singles against Pandya as Australia reach 91 for six in 15 overs.

Aus 76-5 (12 ovs); D/L Target: 164 in 21 ovs | Scorecard

Australia need 95 runs from 10 overs for victory with a dangerous Maxwell out in the middle, having smashed 33 from 13 balls, with three sixes and as many fours.

Stoinis sensibly gives the strike to Maxwell, who goes for the sweep against Chahal but fails to beat the fielder at square leg. The Indians go up in appeal for a catch which is referred upstairs and the third umpire needs just one look to confirm that the ball went on the bounce to the fielder.

Maxwell goes for the reverse but misses before he slog sweeps Chahal over midwicket for a six.

Maxwell goes for another big hit but this time holes out to Pandey at long-on to walk back after an entertaining innings of 39 from 18 balls, having hit three fours and four sixes.

Aus 69-4 (11 ovs); D/L Target: 164 in 21 ovs | Scorecard

Glenn Maxwell counter-attacks as he looks to swing Pandya over the leg side but only manages to get it over mid-on for two runs.

The next ball is short and a bit wide and Maxwell just steers it over the thirdman fielder inside the circle for a four.

He then smashes the next ball through midwicket for another boundary to get 10 runs from the over.

Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal comes into the attack. New batsman Marcus Stoinis has no clue as Chahal mixes it quite well, bowling the leg-spinner and the googly cleverly.

He somehow survives the first five deliveries before getting two runs off the last ball courtesy of a misfield.

Australia are 47 for four in 10 overs, reeling after a few early wickets.

Maxwell then takes on the young Kuldeep as he pulls a short ball behind square for a four followed by a hat-trick of sixes.

He smashes the chinaman spinner for back to back sixes straight down the ground and then slog sweeps the next ball over square leg for the same result.

Maxwell tries to reverse the last ball but is beaten as Kuldeep goes for 22 runs in the over.

Aus 35-4 (8 ovs); D/L Target: 164 in 21 ovs | Scorecard

Kuldeep drops it short as Warner pulls it square for a couple before he sweeps the next ball and picks two more runs with Chahal doing well to save the boundary with a last-minute dive on the ropes.

A couple of dot balls before Kuldeep beats Warner with one that grips and turns. He looks to cut the short ball but gets an edge and Dhoni comes up with a sharp catch.

Warner walks back for 25 with Australia slipping to 35 for four in eight overs.

Aus 31-3 (7 ovs); D/L Target: 164 in 21 ovs | Scorecard

Left-arm chinaman spinner Kuldeep Yadav comes into the attack. Travis Head takes a single to get off the mark before Warner tries the reverse sweep but fails to make proper connection and then takes one.

Head slaps the fifth ball through the off-side for a couple before he takes one from the last ball.

Warner pulls Pandya through the leg side for a couple before he nearly holes out to short fine leg attempting a similar shot after being deceived by the slower bouncer.

Pandya leaves Australia in further strife with the wicket of Head, who goes after a wide delivery but gets an edge and is caught behind for five. The 'knuckle ball' which has become a big hit in limited overs cricket does the trick for Pandya.

Australia in big trouble on 29 for three in the seventh over with Pandya turning it on with the ball after his heroics with the bat earlier in the day.

Aus 20-2 (5 ovs); D/L Target: 164 in 21 ovs | Scorecard

Hardik Pandya comes into the attack in place of Bhuvneshwar and he nearly strikes in his first over.

Steve Smith walks across his stumps and looks to flick Pandya on the leg side but misses and is struck in front of the stumps. The Indians take DRS review after umpire Erasmus turns down the appeal, however, Smith is saved as the ball looks to be clipping top of off-stump and the umpire's decision stays.

However, Pandya gets his man off the very next ball. Smith looks to turn Pandya on the leg side but gets a top edge as Bumrah does well to run back and judge a high catch.

Smith walks back for one to leave Australia in trouble on 20 for two in five overs.

Aus 15-1 (4 ovs); D/L Target: 164 in 21 ovs | Scorecard

Warner goes hard at a wide one from Bhuvneshwar, who bowls it slightly slower as the cut shot goes to thirdman for one.

Bhuvneshwar gets one to come in sharply as Cartwright is cut into two trying to play another tentative defensive poke.

The next ball moves away as the right-hander goes for the drive but gets an edge which falls short of Rohit at first slip who does well to stop it on the bounce and keep it down to one.

The first loose delivery of the innings as Bhuvi bowls a full delivery on the pads and with fine leg inside the circle Warner only has to place it in the gap behind square for the first boundary of the innings.

Cartwright struggling to make an impression on his debut. Bumrah foxes him with a good slower ball as Cartwright is struck high on the pads and Warner calls him for a quick leg bye to take the strike.

A bit of extra bounce for Bumrah as Warner is hit high on the bat trying to defend it before he takes one to midwicket from the fourth ball.

Bumrah ends Cartwright's agony as he bowls him for one. The right-hander tries to swing Bumrah across the line on the leg side but misses it completely and ends up losing his wicket.

Steve Smith goes after the first delivery he faces but is beaten.

Aus 5-0 (2 ovs) vs India 281-7 | Scorecard

D/L Target: 164 in 21 overs

Australia's openers -- David Warner and Hilton Cartwright -- have walked out to the middle to start off the game after a long rain delay of nearly two and half hours.

This is Warner's first ODI in India, while Cartwright is making his ODI debut.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar opens the bowling for India as he starts with a slightly short ball which Warner defends on the leg side and does the same with the next ball.

Australia get off the mark with a wide as Bhuvneshwar slips one down the leg side.

Warner watchful to begin with as he gets off the mark from the last ball with a single on the off-side.

Jasprit Bumrah from the other end. The first ball is right up as Warner punches it straight down the ground for a four followed by a single from the next ball.

Bumrah produces a beauty to beat Cartwright as the ball moves away late with the right-hander having a poke but misses.

The next ball is full on the pads as Cartwright looks to glide it fine but misses out on some easy runs.

Get ready for a T20 dash!

The match is getting underway soon with Australia set a revised target of 164 runs in 21 overs.

The rain has finally relented and the groundstaff have got on with their task immediately.

The covers have been taken off and the groundstaff is working on getting the ground ready for play as possible.

If no further rain, we could have some play soon.

The Indian team was out in the middle and were waiting for the Australian batsmen to walk out when it started to rain again, forcing the covers to be brought back.

Australia were set a revised target of 238 in 37 overs under the Duckworth-Lewis method but that could change if the rain persists.

Well, it has started to rain again and the covers are coming out yet again which means the delay will continue...

Stay tuned!

The game is set to get underway soon as it has stopped raining and the covers have been taken off.

The latest from Chennai is that the match will get underway at 7pm IST.

India 281-7 (50 ovs) vs Aus | Scorecard

Not so good news from Chennai as rain has delayed the resumption of the Australian innings.

The ground is under covers and there is a slight drizzle so we will have to wait for the time being.

India 281-7 (50 ovs) vs Aus | Scorecard

Hardik Pandya and Mahendra Singh Dhoni hit half-centuries to lead India's superb recovery after a horror start and power them to 281 for seven in their 50 overs.

India were reeling on 87 for five before Pandya stroked 83 from 66 balls, adding 118 runs for the sixth wicket with Dhoni.

Dhoni started off cautiously before he cut loose at the end to hit 79 from 88 balls, while Bhuvneshwar stroked a quickfire 32 from 30 balls.

For Australia, Nathan Coulter-Nile claimed three for 44, while Marcus Stoinis picked up two for 54.

India 281-7 (50 ovs) vs Aus | Scorecard

Dhoni finally looks to cut loose. He gives Faulkner the charge but can only pull it to fine leg for a single and Bhuvneshwar turns the next ball to the same area for another run.

Faulkner tries the slower bouncer but Dhoni waits for it and swings it over the short fine leg fielder for a four.

Dhoni has another big swing to the slower ball which is fuller this time but is beaten.

Dhoni then comes down the track and smashes Faulkner over the off-side for a six to bring up the 50-run stand for the seventh wicket from 43 balls.

The last ball is paddled fine by the experienced right-hander for another four to get 16 runs from the over.

Cummins continue to bowl well as India manage only four runs from his final over, also the penultimate over of the innings.

Meanwhile, Faulkner's struggles continue. He starts with a slower bouncer which Dhoni pulls fine for a four and to add to Australia's misery Faulkner has a bowled a no-ball.

Dhoni can't get the free hit away as Coulter-Nile does well on the square leg fence to save the boundary with the batsmen deciding not to take the run.

And rightly so as Dhoni comes down the track and smashes the next ball over the long-off region for a six.

Dhini has another wild swing this time to the leg side but fails to make connection. He falls off the next ball as he miscues it to Warner on the off-side to walk back after a terrific innings of 79 from 88 balls, having hit four fours and two sixes.

Bhuvneshwar walks across his stumps and paddle scoops it over fine leg for a four but is beaten off the last ball.

India recover after a few early wickets to post a healthy 281 for seven in their 50 overs with Bhuvneshwar playing a good hand of 32 from 30 balls.

India 246-6 (47 ovs) vs Aus | Scorecard

Coulter-Nile comes back as Australia look for another wicket or two with India's lower order coming out to bat.

Dhoni picks a single off the last ball before Bhuvneshwar Kumar sees off the remaining five deliveries to end a good over.

Australia happy to give Dhoni the early single as he taps Zampa to deep midwicket for one. Bhuvneshwar finally gets off strike as he lofts Zampa down the ground for a single on the bounce to long-on.

Two balls later, Bhuvi despatches a full toss over midwicket for a boundary. Seven runs from the over as Zampa finishes with one for 66 in his 10 overs.

Dhoni pulls Coulter-Nile but gets a top edge which goes fine on the leg side for a four, his first of the innings after a long wait of 67 deliveries.

Stoinis, who has one over in hand, comes back to bowl the 45th over. Bhuvneshwar goes after the medium pacer as he lofts him down the ground past mid-on for a four.

The next ball is full and comes in sharply as Bhuvi is struck on the pads as he looks to tap it on the off-side. The Australians take the DRS after the appeal for LBW is turned down but replays show that the batsman had got a big inside edge on to the pads.

Stoinis bowls a very slow bouncer as Dhoni has enough time to watch it go down the leg side and is ruled a wide.

Seven runs from his last over as Stoinis registers good figures of two for 54 in his 10 overs.

Bhuvneshwar getting the boundaries with Dhoni still content to play steady. He goes after Coulter-Nile and hammers him back over his head for a four. The next ball is a yorker as Bhuvneshwar gets an inside edge which narrowly misses the stumps and goes for another four.

He then drives the next ball through the covers for two runs followed by one as 12 come from the over.

Bhuvneshwar has continued the momentum, hitting his way to 22 from 19 balls, while Dhoni is content to play second fiddle on 49 from 74 balls.

Cummins back into the attack, to bowl the 47th and 49th overs. Dhoni taps the second ball to point and steals a quick single to complete his half-century from 75 balls, having hit just one boundary.

Dhoni still not changing gears and is happy with the ones and twos. He gently turns Cummins to square leg for two runs and then takes a single off the last ball to keep strike.

India 205-6 (41 ovs) vs Aus | Scorecard

Pandya continues his assault as he pulls a short ball from Cummins fine on the leg side for a four.

In the next over, he heaves a slower ball from Faulkner over midwicket for another boundary.

Stoinis also suffers at the hands of Pandya as he lofts the medium pacer down the ground for a six to leave the Australians with a lot of thinking to do with this sudden assault.

Pandya blasts Zampa over midwicket for a six to bring up India's 200, in the 41st over.

But the leg-spinner gets revenge immediately as Pandya goes for the slog sweep but gets a top edge and is caught at thirdman after an entertaining innings of 83 from 66 balls, having hit five fours and five sixes.

India 172-5 (37 ovs) vs Aus | Scorecard

Stoinis using the slower ball to good effect as Pandya and Dhoni struggling with their timing on this slowish wicket.

Cummins comes back for another short burst. Dhoni goes hard at a wide delivery but gets an inside edge for a single on the leg side as just two runs come from the over.

Australia have not let the two batsmen get away by bowling short balls or any loose balls for that matter.

The pressure continues to grow and Pandya breaks the shackles by lofting Zampa back over his head for a four, somehow managing to get it over the fielder positioned very straight at mid-on.

The next ball is hit even further as it goes over the ropes for a huge six straight down the ground.

Pandya has changed gears as he clobbers Zampa for another six over long-on to complete his half-century in some style, from 48 balls.

Pandya not holding back as he smashes the next ball straight down the ground to complete a hat-trick of sixes. A single off the last ball makes it 24 runs from the over as India slowly but steadily look to make their way back as they reach 172 for five in 37 overs.

India 139-5 (33 ovs) vs Aus | Scorecard

Coulter-Nile, who did the damage early on with three wickets in his first spell, coming back for his second spell in place of Stoinis, who took two for 28 in his six overs.

He nearly gets another one but Smith fails to get down low in time to take the edge from Pandya (13) as it goes past him for a four. He turns the next ball square on the leg side for a couple and then takes one to take his score to 20 from 21 balls, going past Dhoni, who has 18 from 30 balls.

Pandya mishits a pull shot against Coulter-Nile but the balls drops short of the fielder at deep midwicket.

With Australia bowling a few tight overs, Pandya looks desperate to force the issue. He comes down the track to Faulkner and throws his bat at a wide one but gets a couple through the off-side followed by two singles.

Stoinis is back into the attack. Dhoni immediately comes down the track but is beaten by the slower bouncer as he is struck on the body.

Even Pandya is foxed by the slower ball as the ball keeps low and beats the wicketkeeper for four byes.

Leg-spinner Zampa comes back into the attack. Six singles from the over as the two batsmen bring up the 50-run stand for the sixth wicket.

India 110-5 (27 ovs) vs Aus | Scorecard

Dhoni and Pandya looking to deal in singles and build a partnership in the middle overs as they milk Zampa for five singles in his fifth over.

Dhoni punches Stoinis down the ground but Warner runs all the way back from mid-on and puts in the dive to keep it down to three runs.

Pandya then ramps a short ball from Stoinis over the wicketkeeper for a four to take India past the 100-run mark, in the 24th over.

Faulkner comes back, replacing Zampa, who bowled five overs for 19 runs in his first spell.

Faulkner, who went for runs in his first spell, makes a good start in his second spell as he concedes just two singles in his fourth over.

Dhoni misses out on a full toss as he taps it straight to point as Stoinis sends down a tight over, giving away three runs.

The boundaries have dried up and India are content to pick up the singles and twos and keep the scoreboard ticking along.

India 90-5 (22 ovs) vs Aus | Scorecard

Australia bring fast bowler Cummins, who bowled just one over in his first spell. Jadhav looks to run a wide ball down to thirdman but gets an edge which goes past the lone slip fielder for a four.

He then pulls a short ball to deep square leg for a single to bring the darling of Chennai -- Mahendra Singh Dhoni -- back on strike, who blocks the last ball.

It has gone dark in Chennai as the floodlights are being switched on but still the conditions look very gloomy.

Dhoni plays a nice drive off a full delivery through the covers but Cartwright at long-off does well to stop the boundary with a full length dive to his left.

Jadhav has settled down well to take his score to 39 from 48 balls while Dhoni is getting his eye in on six from nine balls.

India are struggling to get a partnership as they reach 84 for four in 20 overs.

All-rounder Stoinis making an impact with the ball. Another short ball does the trick as Jadhav pulls it straight to the fielder at midwicket to perish for 40.

India had a close shave off the previous delivery as Dhoni survived a close run out shout. He tapped it on the off-side and set off for a run but Jadhav was stuck to his crease at the non-striker's end forcing Dhoni to retreat back but the fielder missed with the direct hit.

But Australia got a wicket from the next delivery to leave India struggling on 87 for five in the 22nd over.

Meanwhile, India's all-rounder Hardik Pandya has his task cut out with the bat. He gets off the mark with two runs on the leg side before Stoinis tests him with a few bouncers but he is happy to let them go through.

India 71-4 (16 ovs) vs Aus | Scorecard

Australia introduce spin as leg-spinner Adam Zampa comes into the attack, who does well to concede just two runs in his first over.

Rohit goes after a wide delivery from Stoinis but is lucky that the cut shot goes just wide of a flying Maxwell at point for a four.

But the bowler gets his man a few deliveries later. Rohit pulls a short ball straight into the hands of the fielder at deep square leg to perish for 28.

India slip into further trouble as they are reduced to 64 for four in 16 overs with their top order back in the hut.

Jadhav continues to shine among the ruins. This time he is quick to pounce on a short ball from Zampa, lofting it over midwicket for a four.

India 57-3 (14 ovs) vs Aus | Scorecard

Faulkner oversteps to give away a no-ball but Jadhav is unable to get the free hit as he is foxed by the slower ball.

Medium pace all-rounder Marcus Stoinis comes into the attack. He makes a tidy start, giving away just three singles in his first over before Jadhav and Rohit hit Faulkner for a boundary each to take India past the 50-run mark in the 13th over.

India are 57 for three in 14 overs with Jadhav on 24 and Rohit on 23.

India 34-3 (10 ovs) vs Aus | Scorecard

Jadhav looking to be positive and hit India out of trouble. He clips a full delivery from Cummins through midwicket for another boundary.

The right-hander goes after another wide delivery but is beaten before he edges the next ball but it goes to thirdman for one.

Rohit goes after a short ball and nearly holes out to the fielder on the fine leg fence but Adam Zampa gets there on the bounce.

Coulter-Nile bowls another good over, conceding just a single. The fast bowler has given away just eight runs in four overs, while picking up three early wickets to give Australia control.

Left-arm pacer James Faulkner comes into the attack in place of Cummins, who bowled a sharp spell of four overs for 16 runs in his first spell and was unlucky not to be rewarded with a wicket or two.

Rohit crashes the first ball through point for his first boundary of the innings before he takes a single.

Jadhav walks across his stumps and tries to clip it through midwicket but fails to get proper timing and gets one on the leg side.

In the next over, he pulls Coulter-Nile but mishits it over mid-on for two runs but he gets the next ball off the middle through the covers for another couple.

India are 34 for three in 10 overs, with Jadhav on 14 and Rohit on 12.

India 16-3 (6 ovs) vs Aus | Scorecard

No runs from the bat in the last two overs. Rohit looks to break the shackles as he tries to steer Cummins to thirdman but gets an edge but Steve Smith at second slip is unable to hold on.

The pressure pays as Coulter-Nile strikes from the other end. Kohli looks to loft a full delivery over the off-side but Glenn Maxwell comes up with a stunning catch at point.

Maxwell does well to take a one-handed catch jumping high and still manages to maintain his balance.

It goes from bad to worse for India as Manish Pandey is caught behind for a duck after the decision is referred to the television umpire, who rules the ball has gone off the edge. There was some doubt as to whether the ball had gone on the bounce but replays show the ball had clearly gone off the edge.

India in trouble on 11 for three in the sixth over with Coulter-Nile claiming all three wickets to fall.

Kedar Jadhav walks out ahead of Mahendra Singh Dhoni. He gets a wide first up before he smashes a wide delivery through the covers for the first boundary of the Indian innings in the sixth over.

India 11-1 (4 ovs) vs Aus | Scorecard

Rahane drives Cummins through the off-side for a couple followed by a single. Rohit pulls the last ball but fails to make proper connection for two runs to midwicket.

Coulter-Nile oversteps to give away a no-ball but Rahane can't make most of the free hit delivery as the pacer bowls a quick short ball.

The next ball is pitched up as Rahane looks to drive but gets an edge and is caught behind for five.

Virat Kohli nearly perishes playing a similar loose shot outside the off-stump but this time there is no edge.

India 4-0 (2 ovs) vs Aus | Scorecard

The two Mumbai batsmen -- Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma -- walk out to open the batting for India in the series opener.

Pat Cummins to open the bowling for the visitors. The first ball is full and wide as Rahane steers it to thirdman for one.

Rohit Sharma as Michael Clarke observes on commentary has changed his stance a bit and is standing outside the leg-stump with an initial trigger movement before he plays a stroke.

He watchfully defends four balls in a row with Cummins getting some extra bounce before he tucks the last ball behind square on the leg side for a couple.

Nathan Coulter-Nile to bowl the second over. He immediately settles on a good length just on and around the off-stump as Rahane defends before he upper cuts the fifth ball to thirdman for one.

A cautious start for India as just four runs come from the first two overs.

Check out the two teams line-up for today's match:

India: Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Manish Pandey, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (w/k), Kedar Jadhav, Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah.

Australia: Steven Smith (captain), David Warner, Hilton Cartwright, Travis Head, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade (w/k), James Faulkner, Pat Cummins, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Adam Zampa.

India captain Virat Kohli has won the toss and elected to bat against Australia in the series opener.

Ajinkya Rahane will open the innings in place of Shikhar Dhawan, who will miss the first three ODIs due to personal reasons.

Manish Pandey retains his place in the team, at No. 4, after a couple of impressive knocks in Sri Lanka.

Surprisingly, Ravindra Jadeja, who was called up to the squad after an injury to Axar Patel, is not picked as Kohli prefers to play two wrist spinners in Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav.

Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav also fail to make it to the playing eleven as India decide to continue with Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar following their impressive showing in Sri Lanka.

Welcome to the coverage of the first match of the five-match One-Day International series between India and Australia in Chennai on Sunday.

On a roll after decimating Sri Lanka, Virat Kohli's Indian team will be aiming for another comprehensive show against a depleted Australia when the two sides square-off in the opening encounter

A 5-0 series victory for India, which could be a rare first series sweep against Australia, will put them at the top of the ICC ODI rankings while a 4-1 win for the visitors will help them grab pole position.

For India, facing an Australian side without their top two pacers -- Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood would certainly work to their advantage but at the same time, the likes of Steve Smith, David Warner and Glenn Maxwell are seasoned pros for whom India is like a "second home" following their appearances in the Indian Premier League in the last few years.

The Aussies are well aware of what threat wrist spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal can pose for them. Accordingly, they summoned mustery spinners KK Jiyas and local lad Murugan Ashwin to prepare for the match.

The two teams are playing an ODI in Chennai after a gap of three decades, having last met at the iconic stadium in the opening fixture of the Reliance World Cup, way back in 1987.

The last time the Australians played a bilateral ODI series in India in 2013, the hosts won seven-match series 3-2 with two games were abandoned due to inclement weather.