# Sports

3rd ODI: Steve Smith opts to bat first, eyes ‘good total’ against India

Smith won the toss and opted to bat first against India in the third Test.

SNS | New Delhi | September 24, 2017 1:24 pm

3rd ODI: Steve Smith opts to bat first, eyes ‘good total’ against India

Australian skipper Steve Smith won the toss and opted to bat first against India in the third Test at the Holkar Stadium, Indore on Sunday.

Currently, India lead the five-match ODI series by 2-0.

“I don’t read wickets too well, hopefully, we can post a good total. The next three games are must-win for us,” Smith said after winning the toss.

Australia introduced two changes in their line-up as Aaron Finch and Peter Handscomb made cut in place of Hilton Cartwright and Mathew Wade.

“We are trying to strengthen the middle-order a little bit, hopefully, we can step up today,” the Australian captain added.

Indian captain Virat Kohli, who decided to go with an unchanged squad, said he also wanted to bat first at the Holkar Stadium.

“The pitch could play better for the batsmen under lights, maybe it will be a little slow during the day when it is dry,” he said.

India Playing XI: Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli (C), Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni (WK), Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal

Australia Playing XI: Aaron Finch, David Warner, Steven Smith (C), Travis Head, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Peter Handscomb (WK), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Kane Richardson