Speaking ahead of Sunday\u2019s opening ODI at Optus Stadium \u2014 a sell-out fixture despite a 90 per cent chance of rain \u2014 Marsh said the series promised to be a special occasion both for fans and players. With over 1,75,000 tickets already sold across the three matches, anticipation is high as two of India\u2019s modern greats return to Australian shores.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cHad the privilege of playing against them quite a lot over the journey. They are obviously legends of the game,\u201d Marsh said. \u201cVirat, especially in this white-ball format, is the greatest chaser ever. I think you can see why the ticket sales are so high and why a lot of people are coming to watch them. And if it is their last time on Australian soil, I hope they enjoy it and I hope people can witness \u2014 not too much great cricket from them \u2014 but witness two of the greats playing in Australia.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Marsh, who will lead the ODI side in Pat Cummins\u2019 absence due to injury, said captaining Australia at home was a privilege in itself.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cAny time you\u2019re captaining your country is always a huge honour. Playing at home is always extra special and by all reports, it\u2019s going to be a big crowd,\u201d he said. \u201cTo see the stadium packed out against India, it\u2019s going to be a great experience for our group.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The series opener will also mark the start of Kohli\u2019s swansong tour Down Under, with both he and Rohit having retired from Tests and T20Is to focus solely on one-day internationals as they eye the 2027 ODI World Cup.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Marsh also light-heartedly ruled himself out of any potential Test recall despite ongoing injury concerns around fellow West Australian Cameron Green and Beau Webster ahead of the Ashes next month.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI\u2019ve got tickets for day one and two. I haven\u2019t asked the wife yet, so that\u2019s about as much thought as I\u2019ve given it,\u201d Marsh joked.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Green, who has been managing side soreness, is expected to recover in time for the first Ashes Test in Perth. \u201cHe\u2019s okay, it\u2019s obviously on the very minor end and a cautious take on it, but he\u2019s all good,\u201d Marsh said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI\u2019ve got tickets for day one and two. I haven\u2019t asked the wife yet, so that\u2019s about as much thought as I\u2019ve given it,\u201d Marsh joked.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cOften you see Perth (Optus) Stadium can swing around with a new ball and both teams will be looking to do early damage on that wicket. Look across the board in the Big Bash, a lot of your biggest scores are back-ended,\u201d he said. \u201cI believe it\u2019s going to be a high scoring affair, but getting through the first 10 overs for both teams will be a challenge and maybe where the game\u2019s won and lost.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n