Star Australian player injured, doubtful for ODI World Cup 2023 campaign opener vs India

Chennai’s MA Chidambaram stadium will be the venue as India and Australia play each other on Sunday. It is a special game as it begins the 2023 ODI World Cup campaign for both teams. The pressure is on Rohit Sharma as the fans hope the Indian skipper will win India its third ODI World Cup title.

Pat Cummins meanwhile is gunning to win the sixth title for Australia in ODI World Cup history. The Australians are the most successful team in history with five title wins. The two teams have just played each other in a short ODI series before the 2023 ODI World Cup.

Ahead of the massive game on Sunday, there are major concerns for the Australian setup. One of their star players is injured and could be in a race against time to be fit for the game on Sunday.

Marcus Stoinis injured and doubtful for India game 

Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis last played during the Mohali ODI and skipped the final two games. Andrew McDonald the Australian coach has said that the 34-year-old is doubtful for the first game of the 2023 ODI World Cup.

Speaking to the media ahead of the Chennai match, McDonald said “That happened after the Mohali game. He pulled up a little bit sore from that game and then further investigation obviously led to that being a slight hamstring and then he’s just rehabilitating.”

The Australian coach did not sound too hopeful when speaking about Marcus Stoinis. Andrew McDonald quipped “It’ll be touch and go for game one. He hasn’t certainly been ruled out of that but we weren’t prepared to risk him in those practice games. So he’s being probably slow played a little bit with the view to these next couple of days being really important for him to press for selection for game one. We’ll see how it unfolds”

Star spinner Adam Zampa also had a few fitness issues post the 2^nd ODI in Indore. The Australia leg=spinner did not play the Rajkot ODI or the two Warm-up games. Allaying fears Andrew McDonald said, “He did pull up sore from the second ODI but nothing serious”.