High on confidence Twenty20 World Champion- India, take on Australia in a seven match one day series on their home turf beginning on September 29. The Indian cricket team has just returned home with a World Cup win exactly 24 years after its first ever World Cup win in 1983. Dhoni's young side achieved something, which not even the most die-hard supporter of Indian cricket expected from the in-experienced side the newly appointed captain was leading. However, the scene this time would be a bit different with the change in format from 20-20 to 50-50. The 'berserk hitting' game would be replaced by a more planned out and strategic 50 over matches. Both teams would be ready and eager to face each other. On top of it, Australia would be waiting to avenge their Twenty20 semi-final defeat at the hands of India which knocked them out of the tournament. The Indians on the other hand would like to maintain the winning momentum and the newly found aggression to achieve new heights in world cricket.

Going by the past record of Australia in the 50-50 format, of which they are the World Champions since last Eight years, they stand favourites in the upcoming series. On top of it, India would be under immense pressure to perform in front of their home crowd, especially after the soaring expectations. Perhaps this would be the true test of the highly acclaimed captaincy of India's latest Captain- courageous, M S Dhoni. A Twenty20 encounter is very different from a regular 50 over game. If we look at the statistics of the 50-50 format, the scales weigh in favour of the kangaroos.

The overall statistics read as-
Matches Played - 83
Australia won – 51
India won – 27
No result – 5

Talking about matches played in India, the scales are almost in balance-
Matches Played -31
Australia won – 15
India won – 12
No result – 3
One match was abandoned

Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has already rung the warning bells. “We play to win and that's what we are here for. The Indian team is on a high but that's not going to impact us a great deal. In fact it is the Indian team who needs to be more careful, as they are the ones who are under pressure to perform consistently after their World Cup encounter, and that too before their home crowd. ” After an exhaustive series in South Africa followed by an even more exhaustive victory celebration, the Indian team will need some time to come out of the hype and euphoria. But who knows, with a little support from the senior players and the junior mates, he might just be able to turn the tables around again.

New rules: India and Australia decided to implement ICC's new rules in the ongoing series. The rules were supposed to come into effect from October 1 but the two teams decided to start off with them in the Bangalore match itself so as to avoid sudden adjustment to the new rules. The new ICC rules are as follows -