Australia-India tensions cool ahead of IPL

Australian and Indian Test cricketers have smoothed over relations ahead of this week's start to the Indian Premier League.

Friendships may have been lost during an ill-tempered series that finished only last week, but several Australian Test squad members will now become teammates with their Indian counterparts in the upcoming IPL.

Three of those players - Steve Smith, David Warner and Glenn Maxwell - will have authority over Indian Test stars as captains of teams in the lucrative Twenty20 tournament, beginning on Wednesday.

Australia's 2-1 Test series loss in February-March would have won them few fans in India.

The hostile four-match series was marked by veiled accusations of cheating and sledging by both sides, while on social media, Australians were vehement over pitch doctoring and the vitriolic behaviour of Indian captain Virat Kohli.

But with the IPL in sight, tensions have since cooled somewhat.

Australian skipper Smith apologised in Dharamsala for letting his emotions loose and Kohli backed away from comments that he'd never again be friends with any Australian cricketer.

Smith has even adorned traditional attire and speaking in the Indian language of Marathi, urged Pune locals to support his team.

Former Australian batsman Brad Hodge, who coaches Gujarat Lions, also apologised for conjecture about Kohli's injury-enforced withdrawal from the fourth Test and whether he would be fit to start the IPL.

Maxwell's Kings XI Punjab teammate and Indian Test wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha said he was ready to move on after finding out he'd be playing under the Australian.

"I have to accept the team's decision," Saha said.

"What happened is now in the past. The feeling now is very good after winning the series."

Ajinkya Rahane, India's victorious stand-in captain for the deciding fourth Test, said his captain at Rising Pune Supergiants - Smith - would be given control of the side.

But there was expectation of collaboration.

"Smith is the captain of the team," Rahane said.

"The management has given him charge so we all will have to give him total command.

"I am sure Smith will take advice from (former Indian wicketkeeper MS) Dhoni whenever the situation demands, banking on the former captain's experience in this format.

"We should leave Smith alone in this situation."

Fans hoping to see Royal Challengers Bangalore's Kohli again do battle with Australian Test nemeses will have to wait until after his absence - due to a shoulder injury - for the start of the tournament, including the opener on Wednesday against the Warner-led defending champions Sunrisers Hyderabad.

The 10th edition of the IPL will include 21 Australians, with pacemen Billy Stanlake and Andrew Tye in line to make their debuts.

Star Big Bash League batsmen Chris Lynn and Aaron Finch will feature, as will retired Test quick Mitchell Johson, who copped a $A950,000 pay cut at this year's player auction.

India's KL Rahul, Murali Vijay and Ravi Ashwin will miss the entire April 5-May 21 tournament, while left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja and paceman Umesh Yadav will both miss the start for Gujarat Lions and Kolkata Knight Riders respectively.

AUSTRALIANS IN THE 2017 INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE

DELHI DAREDEVILS: Pat Cummins

KINGS XI PUNJAB: Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell (captain), Marcus Stoinis

GUJARAT LIONS: James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Andrew Tye, Brad Hodge (coach)

KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS: Nathan Coulter-Nile, Chris Lynn, Simon Katich (coach)

MUMBAI INDIANS: Mitchell Johnson

RISING PUNE SUPERGIANTS: Steve Smith (captain), Adam Zampa, Dan Christian, Usman Khawaja

ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE: Shane Watson (stand-in captain), Billy Stanlake, Travis Head

SUNRISERS HYDERABAD: David Warner (captain), Moises Henriques, Ben Cutting, Ben Laughlin, Tom Moody (coach)


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Source: AAP



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