Australia's batting mainstay Michael Hussey believes Zaheer Khan's absence is a big blow for the Indian team in the seven-match ODI series, beginning in Vadodara, on Sunday.
"Last time we were here, Zaheer was crucial and that's going to be a big loss for the Indians.
"Ishant (Sharma) has looked a wonderful bowler to me, he is a difficult customer. It would be interesting to see how it goes," Hussey said in Vadodara on Saturday.
Zaheer was the star bowler for India with 11 wickets in four Tests when the two teams last played in India - in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which the hosts won 2-0.
Indian bowling never really looked the same in Zaheer's absence as the bowlers suffered in the World Twenty20 and the ICC Champions Trophy with the team being knocked out early in both tournaments.
Hussey is also careful not to underestimate the Indian spinners, especially Harbhajan Singh, who has always bowled well against Australia.
"It will be wrong to under-estimate the Indian spinners. Harbhajan Singh has played for long and has some match-winning performances under his belt. (Amit) Mishra is good. Hopefully we can put them under pressure," he said.
Hussey, 34, himself is under pressure to retain his place in the team. Australia's chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch indicated on Saturday that the selectors would soon have to take a decision on the future of Hussey, who has struggled to make an impact with the bat in the past 12 months.
But the veteran left-hander seemed unfazed and believes a good run in the seven-match series against India would silence all his critics.
"I saw the headline but I got these seven One-dayers against India right now and I'm sure the selectors will look at the form and performance of all the players and not just mine before they make a decision on the team. But I am not worried about that and I'm focussed on these seven ODIs."
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni had echoed Australian coach Tim Nielsen's sentiments that the Champions League Twenty20 could leave the participating Aussie players exhausted ahead of the ODI series.
Even Hussey admitted that the first few matches could be tough for those players.
"No. I think they will be fine. They have played in these Indian conditions for a while and that is going to be of some help but yes these first couple of games will be pretty hard on them.
"They have played quite a few games in a row and are just coming in with a day's break, flight and things like that. But they are professional cricketers and will adapt quickly again."
Hussey, regarded as one of the top batsmen in One-day Internationals, believes the 50-over format still has a future and will not disappear anytime soon.
"Anytime there is good cricket played against good quality team, the public generally likes seeing such sort of games. I think 50-over cricket has a huge future in the game and it caters to a wide range of players, you can have your very aggressive batsmen, you can have the good runners between the wickets, it calls for tactics, you can have good spinners in the middle. Fifty overs cricket still has a big role to play."
