Michael Clarke has been ruled out of the upcoming India tour due to back injury. The Australian captain sustained the injury during the ODI series against England, following the Ashes, and had been in doubt for the India series since then.

While George Bailey, Australia’s skipper in T20 format, will lead the side in Pup’s absence, Cricket Australia has penciled in Callum Ferguson, the middle order, as replacement for the incapacitated

skipper.

Losing their best batsman, in Indian conditions and otherwise too, will deal a huge blow to Australia’s chances and hopes winning an ODI series in India. The Aussies were humiliated 4-0 in the Test series when they last visited India and they would have been looking at this limited-over series as an opportunity to make up for that complete annihilation and humiliation.

Clarke would be missed as much for his captaincy as much as his batting skills. Having toured India on several occasion—incidentally he made his debut India -- and thus knowing the conditions and what it requires to play here, he was the best man to lead the side.

There were some indications that Shane Watson, one of the few senior members of the side and vastly experienced, might lead the side but Cricket Australia choose to go with George Bailey.

It’s advantage India in the seven-match ODI and a lone T20 series that will kick off in Rajkot from October 10.

Australia T20 squad: George Bailey (captain), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Brad Haddin, Moises Henriques, Mitchell Johnson, Nic Maddinson, Glenn Maxwell, Clint McKay, Adam Voges, Shane Watson.

Australia ODI squad: George Bailey (captain), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Callum Ferguson, Aaron Finch, Brad Haddin, Moises Henriques, Phil Hughes, Mitchell Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, Clint McKay, Adam Voges, Shane Watson.