AFP
Perth
Rookie fast bowler Barinder Sran is in line to make his international debut for India in the opening one-day match against Australia in Perth this week.
India's bowling coach Bharat Arun said uncapped paceman Sran would give the team an added advantage as a left-armer, indicating the 23-year-old would likely play in the series opener at the WACA Ground on Tuesday.
"He is a bowler with a lot of potential. He has been pretty impressive in the two games that he has played," Arun told reporters late Saturday after India's back-to-back wins in warm-up games against a Western Australian XI on Friday and Saturday.
"Being a left-armer, he gives us the added advantage. And we have somebody whom we can groom to become a good bowler in the future for us.
"If he has got the ability then why not (play him)? It is a bilateral series and we have to try out the potential bowlers that we have. He has been impressive so far."
The Indians won the Twenty20 hit-out by 74 runs on Friday and backed it up with a 64-run win in a 50-over game on Saturday. Sran is likely to get his chance after Mohammed Shami injured his hamstring in Friday's T20 game and left Australia, to be replaced by Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Kumar is an unlikely starter for Tuesday's series opener and key quick Ishant Sharma has yet to bowl on tour.
"Ishant is a very experienced bowler and before the game he was bowling on the ground," Arun said.
It will be the first time top-ranked Australia have faced India since beating them in the World Cup semi-final at Sydney last March. Australia subsequently beat New Zealand in the final to win their fifth World Cup.
Australia will play five ODIs against India starting in Perth, followed by Brisbane on January 15, Melbourne on January 17, Canberra on January 20 and Sydney on January 23. India will also play three T20s in Australia.
