IND v AUS 2020, 1st ODI: India's predicted playing XI

Middle order: Virat Kohli (c), Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk)

While Iyer seems to have sealed India's No. 4 spot, the team management will have the final say.

After a roaring IPL 2020, which followed a strong showing for India internationally as a wicket-keeper batsman, KL Rahul will be one of the first names on the team sheet after Indian captain Virat Kohli.

The experiment with Rahul at No. 5 is all set to continue as the team attempts to make the most of the available batsmen - more so, he looks unlikely to move around being one of just two wicket-keeper batsmen named.

The No. 4 slot has been claimed by Shreyas Iyer after a dependable show internationally, followed by a strong IPL season - 519 runs - with the bat for DC. However, his relative slowdown towards the close of the season could mean he enters this series not in the best of touch.

Breathing down his neck, therefore, would be Manish Pandey, who has been around in the setup for a while and even scored a century on India's hapless ODI tour of Australia the last time. If Rahul moves to the top order, both could potentially get a go.