India, Oct. 18 -- It can't be lost on India that the only ODI defeat that mattered in the last five years came against Australia in a World Cup final watched by 120,000 at home. To square up against the same team, sans Pat Cummins who had taken pride in how 'satisfying' it had felt to silence Ahmedabad that night, should motivate India to start well in a three-match ODI series beginning on Sunday at Perth.

India haven't played this format since the Champions Trophy win though, while Australia are better versed in it, having played South Africa in August. There is no Jasprit Bumrah as well - he plays only the T20Is - so there is plenty to ponder.

The most intriguing subplot of what should be a well-contested series is the return of Virat...