After a short break during which KL Rahul has led well, India’s batting mainstays Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Kuldeep Yadav, and Hardik Pandya are expected to return.
Skipper Rohit Sharma wants a clean sweep of Australia in the third and final ODI here on Wednesday to end India’s World Cup preparations. India has never whitewashed Australia in ODIs. Regardless of series length, neither has achieved such a result at home or away. India should win 3-0 given their preparations for the World Cup.
Despite the absence of its front-line players and the fact that it is still experimenting with playing combinations to give everyone game time, the strong Indian side is poised to win a fourth consecutive ODI before the quadrennial event.
India will have a big edge over five-time world champions Australia in their World Cup opener in Chennai on October 8 if they win 3-0.
India has smashed Australia in the first two One-Day Internationals, despite both teams making multiple changes to keep their top players fresh and put miles on the legs of others who would not ordinarily play in first-choice XIs.
After scoring 74 and 104 in the first two ODIs, India rested young guns Shubman Gill and Shardul Thakur for the final ODI, which may help Australian spinners.
Gill is the only 50-overs World Cup player with 1,230 runs at 72.35, and his absence from the final game would be noticed.
However, India’s batting heavyweights Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, as well as Kuldeep Yadav and Hardik Pandya, are expected to return after a short vacation led by KL Rahul.
India has overcome squad makeup, player form, fitness, and availability issues.
India’s excess of players was unexpected when the team began its Asia Cup campaign a few weeks ago. Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj have made this Indian team one of the most dangerous in the world.
Shreyas Iyer took a while to get going and again struggled with back difficulties, but he struck a century in Indore’s excellent batting conditions to cement his middle-order spot.
The Indian camp is pleased with Rahul’s batting and stumping performances.
Like Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah has shown fitness and form after a long injury absence in a few outings. India’s top bowler might be called up after resting from the second ODI.
Even though the team management seems to be favoring the injured Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, the oldest member of the Indian squad, wants to take advantage of this opportunity before the World Cup roster is determined.
Australia rarely fails with the bat and ball in India with the white ball like they have in the first two ODIs. After five straight ODI losses, the visitors must regroup.
Mitchell Starc’s in-swingers tormented Indian right-handers in a 2-1 win a few months earlier.
With one game before the World Cup, Australia may be tempted to use their preferred bowling attack, with Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc coming in, despite the batting lacking Travis Head at the top and Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne not having a successful year in India across formats.cr
