Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, India’s batting mainstays, are anticipated to return, as are the in-form Kuldeep Yadav and Hardik Pandya after a brief break period during which KL Rahul has led excellently.
Skipper Rohit Sharma would like the Indian team’s World Cup preparations to come to a close with a clean sweep of Australia in the third and final ODI here on Wednesday. In the ODI format, India has never whitewashed Australia. In truth, neither has accomplished such a result, at home or away, regardless of the number of games played in a series. Given how well everything has gone for the World Cup hosts in the run-up to the huge tournament, India should finish with a deserving 3-0 victory.
Despite the absence of its front-line players and the fact that it is still experimenting with playing combinations to ensure that every member has received game-time, the dominant Indian side is in pole position to win a fourth consecutive ODI before the quadrennial event begins.
If India wins 3-0, they would have a significant advantage over five-time world champions Australia when the two teams meet again in Chennai on October 8 for their World Cup opening.
It is not an exaggeration to state that India has thrashed Australia in the first two One-Day Internationals, despite both teams making several changes to keep their top players fresh while also putting miles on the legs of others who would not normally participate in first-choice XIs.
There may be some relief for the Australian bowlers, as India has rested their young guns Shubman Gill and Shardul Thakur for the final ODI following their 74 and 104 in the first two games.
Gill is the only hitter in the 50-overs World Cup year with a thousand runs and counting – 1,230 runs at a remarkable average of 72.35 — and his absence from the final game would be felt.
However, India’s batting mainstays Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are anticipated to return, as are the in-form Kuldeep Yadav and Hardik Pandya from a brief vacation spell led well by KL Rahul.
India has turned the tide in the face of some difficult questions about squad makeup, player form, fitness, and availability.
The fact that India would wind up with an excess of players was not anticipated when the team began its Asia Cup campaign just a few weeks ago. But players like Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Mohammed Shami, and even Mohammed Siraj have converted this Indian team into one of the most threatening in the world.
He took some time to get going and once again fought with back issues, but Shreyas Iyer took advantage of ideal batting conditions in Indore to record a century, which will help solidify his status in the middle-order.
Rahul has delivered with the bat and behind the stumps at the perfect time, much to the satisfaction of the Indian camp.
Jasprit Bumrah, like Rahul, has demonstrated his fitness and form in a few matches following a lengthy injury layoff. India’s premier bowler is available for selection after resting from the second ODI.
Despite the fact that the team management looks to be favouring the injured Axar Patel, the oldest member of the Indian squad, Ravichandran Ashwin, would like to make the most of this opportunity before the contingent is finalized for the World Cup.
It is not often that Australia fails horribly with both the bat and the ball in India with the white ball as they have in the first two ODIs. The visitors must compose their thoughts as the wheels appear to be coming off quickly after five consecutive ODI defeats.
The same team defeated India 2-1 a few months back, with Mitchell Starc tormenting the Indian right-handers with brilliant in-swingers.
With one game remaining before the World Cup, Australia may be tempted to use their preferred bowling attack, with Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc coming in, despite the fact that the batting lacks the firepower of Travis Head at the top and Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne not having had a successful year of cricket in India across formats.cr
