India vs Australia 3rd ODI– Preview

On a high after a swashbuckling performance in Jaipur, India will look to keep the momentum going with another dominating display when they take on a shell-shocked Australian team in the third ODI at the PCA Stadium in Mohali. India and Australia go into this match eyeing a 2-1 lead in the series. The first two ODI’s between India and Australia have resulted in run festivals and that is expected to continue in Mohali as well. The bowlers have struggled at the moment and it looks as if the team who can control their bowling might just take the 2-1 lead in this series.

In the 2nd ODI, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli scored blistering centuries while Shikhar Dhawan added a rapid 95 to help India make a mockery of the second highest run-chase in the history of limited overs cricket. With India`s top-three raising the bar, the likes of Suresh Raina and veterans Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh will also be itching to perform and make their share of substantial contribution.

The only worrying factor for Team India is its bowling department which looks completely toothless. . Ishant Sharma,Vinay Kumar, R Ashwin all have leaked runs and haven’t been able to stop the Aussie batsmen. The death bowling is also very shabby, the bowlers haven’t hit the correct areas of the pitch they have bowled too many full-tosses and half volleys. Though Bhuvaneshwar Kumar and Ravindra Jadeja have bowled marginally well in patches but they need to step up their effort to be effective. While Dhoni doesn`t believe in tinkering with the playing XI much, the pace duo of Ishant Sharma and Vinay Kumar and R. Ashwin should not take their places in the team for granted.

Despite a heartbreaking loss, a positive aspect of this Australian team has been its batting which has fared well in both the ODIs and the T-20. Aaron Finch and Bailey have been in terrific form while Phil Hughes has been able to put behind his poor show in the Test series earlier this year with a lot of grit and application. Shane Watson has also made his share of contribution with the bat and the talented Glenn Maxwell has played the pinch-hitter’s role to perfection in all the games so far and Australia would want him to continue his blitz.

Like India, bowling remains a worry for the Aussies, in spite of having a good bowling unit the Aussies have failed in some areas. Clint McKay was spot on in the T-20 and the first ODI but in the second he was taken to the cleaners by Kohli, Sharma and Dhawan. Johnson is bowling with some serious pace and is very good with the new ball but he is taken for too many runs in his 2nd spell plus he gives away too many extras in order to bowl fast needs to get control in his bowling. Xavier Doherty is a big concern for the Aussies as he has not picked up wickets, being the only specialist spinner in the Australian squad his prime roll is to pick up wickets. These things need to be corrected by the Aussies to put Indians under some pressure.

Dew factor is expected to alter the thinking of captains and force them to bowl first, which suits both the batting-heavy elevens on a track expected to be loaded with runs. All and all, fans will hope for a gripping contest.

India Squad: MS Dhoni (captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, R Vinay Kumar, Amit Mishra, Jaydev Unadkat and Mohd. Shami.

Australia 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.