It’s the first instalment of this rapid ODI series involving India and Australia and we’re at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad as the teams do battle. As viewers, we’ve been treated to a fascinating tour so far and this renewal promises to be no different as the action gets underway from 8.00am GMT on Saturday 2nd March. Here are our top India v Australia 1st ODI betting tips.
An early start, of course, but we have an action-packed day of sports ahead with fixtures of note coming from the world of football, rugby, horse racing, boxing and more, so shrewd backers will see this for what it is, the perfect chance to get off to a winning start and boost the betting balance in good time for a major assault on the bookies.
Armchair fans can follow the play live on TV and punters have the usual flood of betting markets designed to boost your enjoyment of the match. ODI cricket is enthralling to watch but the thrill factor goes off the scale when cheering on a nice priced selection. Pick wisely and you could turn a cash profit from watching international cricket. That seems like the perfect scenario for us.
To help arm you with the research and knowledge needed to beat the bookies in this match we have drafted in our team of cricket pundits and sports betting experts and they offer professional views on where best to place your cash here and which bookmakers are offering the best odds on the most popular selections, ensuring you get the most for your money.
Australia Edge the Opener
The series got started on Sunday and it was the visitors who edged the opener, finally gaining the win needed to convince fans they had moved on from the ball-tampering scandal and the difficult time that accompanied it. A close match was won by Australia by just three wickets, the final scores reading 127-7 (20.0) Australia against 126-7 (20.0) of India.
A late attack from the victors saw them come out on top, scoring 14 runs off the final over to nudge themselves across the line. It was competitive throughout and proved a thrilling watch for fans but at the conclusion, there could be no arguments over the result, Australia taking their chances while India failed to capitalise on home advantage and the opportunities that fell their way.
KL Rahul knocked a half-century to put his men in the driving seat but those around him failed to build on that strong showing and they were made to pay the price. Glenn Maxwell inspired a fightback and the Aussies looked strong when he was finally ousted for 56, although they then dropped five wickets in quick succession to force a nervy finish. Jhye Richardson and Pat Cummins had the bottle to see it out, scoring the runs needed off three balls to bag the desired result. Closer than it should’ve been and there would’ve been questions asked had OZ thrown it away, but they finally got the rub of the green.
Tourists Double-Up
That set the pace and the tourists doubled up when finishing February with another Twenty20 win on Indian soil, this time battering their way to a hard-fought win by just seven wickets three days later. Proving the first was no fluke, it was a pleasure to see the team from down under finally making headlines for cricket again and, regardless of your views on the drama that hung over them for the best part of a year, a strong Australia is good for the game.
We have an important season ahead and the Aussies will be confident they can play their part and continue to build confidence in all forms of the sport. The 2nd T20 returned a score of 194-3 (19.4) Australia vs 190-4 (20.0) India. Maxwell again made headlines on the back of a match-winning performance, hitting 113 not out off just 55 balls to ensure his team had a more comfortable time of things on the second day of play. An emphatic win against a very talented Indian side and the perfect way to round off the T20 series win, proving deserving of the plaudits that accompanied the performance and result.
That was a little harsh on Virat Kohli who played his part in a spirited Indian attack, registering 72 runs off 38 balls and things looked competitive before Maxwell stepped up to blow the game out of the water. Kohli will be eager to get started on the ODI round and grab the victory he believes his form deserves.
Home Win Favourite
With Australia dominating the Twenty20 series the teams enjoyed a brief break before dusting themselves down and moving onto the One Day International series which will be decided over five days between Saturday 2 March and 13 March and will be the final involvement for both before we turn our attentions to the upcoming ICC World Cup which gets going on 25 May, India taking on New Zealand at the Kia Oval in London.
Both teams will be looking to keep sharp in this series with players determined to prove their worth to ensure their involvement in the World Cup. That should result in an increased level of performance and, hopefully for armchair fans and the sport’s neutrals, some big scores put up on the board. For punters, the tour also offers the chance to boost our betting balance with a few winners in time for the World Cup where the real money can be made.
The winner of the opener will be all-important. Will we see Australia continue to dominate or can India fire an early warning shot to remind their guests they are in a match? Bookmakers wasted no time making their minds up and have the home win as favourite with Bet365’s 1/2 acting as the norm in the market at present. All bookies are in agreement over the most likely winner, although many firms are stuck at 5/11. That makes sense, but we’re going to keep our stakes low and shoot for the value again, backing Australia to get off to a winning start at 13/8 – top price at Bet365. They are better than that and have more of a chance than their price would have you believe.
Our Tip: Australia to win – 13/8 at Bet365
Don’t forget to check out our other top betting tips and best cricket betting strategies