Smith, Cummins return from injury but key duo ruled out of Australia's ODI opener in India

Australia’s star white-ball duo Mitchell Starc and Glenn Maxwell are on track to return from injury in the coming days in the World Cup warm-up series against India.

Maxwell (ankle) and Starc (groin) will miss the one-day international series-opener against India in Mohali starting on Friday (6pm AEST).

But captain Pat Cummins hopes both will feature in the three-game series, which continues on Sunday and Wednesday.

Cummins said he and stalwart Steve Smith are clear to play in the vital tune-ups to the 50-over World Cup which begins in India on October 5.

“Starc is here … hopefully he will be available later in the series,” Cummins told reporters in Mohali.

“I hope he will come on and play a part later on. He had been bowling in Sydney. He will bowl today or tomorrow, we are all tracking him. The time frame is similar for Maxwell.”

Maxwell has ankle issues stemming from a broken leg last November and hasn’t played for Australia since March.

Captain Cummins has recovered from a post-Ashes wrist injury and Smith will also return to action against India in what will be crucial build-up games to the cup.

“We have got plenty of people at different stages,” Cummins said.

“I am feeling pretty good, my wrist is all healed now, 100 per cent … (I’m) hoping to play all three games.

(Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

“We want to strike a balance between getting used to these conditions, hopefully winning some games. But also we don’t want to get to that first game (World Cup opener against India on October 8) and already be cooked.

“No doubt we’ll be trying a few different combinations and a few different players will get a chance.

“But ideally we’d like to structure up pretty closely to how we’re going to play in the World Cup.”

AUSTRALIA SQUAD FOR INDIA TOUR: Pat Cummins (capt), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner, Adam Zampa.