India and Australia are gearing up for the final ODI of their series in Sydney, with the series already decided. Despite India’s efforts in Adelaide, the match did not go their way, leading to Shubman Gill’s debut as captain resulting in a series loss. While Rohit Sharma displayed good form and players like Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel stepped up, the team faced challenges with Virat Kohli’s ongoing struggles, marked by a duck in Adelaide, his second in the series. Harshit Rana is also finding it tough to establish himself within the team, especially with the absence of Jasprit Bumrah affecting the bowling lineup.
The debate surrounding Kuldeep Yadav’s inclusion persists, with many hoping he will get an opportunity at the SCG. Speculation arises about potential lineup changes for India to salvage some pride by giving opportunities to fringe players. One such player is Yashasvi Jaiswal, who despite possessing the qualities of a modern aggressive batter suitable for ODIs and T20Is, has not yet solidified his place across formats. With the series outcome decided, there is a chance for Jaiswal to showcase his skills. However, with Rohit Sharma finding form in the previous ODI, the team management may be hesitant to make changes.
Considering Jaiswal’s proficiency as an opener, he could potentially replace Shubman Gill in the lineup. Given Jaiswal’s packed schedule, which includes recent tournaments and upcoming matches, resting the Indian ODI captain and allowing Shreyas Iyer to lead for a game could be a strategic move. Another possible change is bringing in Kuldeep ahead of Washington Sundar for added bowling strength, as well as considering Prasidh Krishna over the expensive Harshit Rana.
On the Australian side, the principle of “if it’s not broken, don’t fix it” seems to guide their approach for the third ODI, aiming for a whitewash. Despite the looming Ashes series, key players like Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are expected to feature in the upcoming match. While there is a possibility of Nathan Ellis and Jack Edwards being included if changes are made, the likelihood of Starc and Hazlewood sitting out appears slim.
Australia’s satisfaction with the performance of emerging players like Matt Short, Cooper Connolly, and Mitchell Owen in Adelaide underscores their transition phase post the era of players like Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell.
In terms of predicted XIs for the third ODI:
Australia: Mitchell Marsh (c), Travis Head, Matt Short, Matthew Renshaw, Alex Carey (wk), Cooper Connolly, Mitch Owen, Xavier Bartlett, Mitchell Starc/Jack Edwards, Adam Zampa, Nathan Ellis/Josh Hazlewood.
India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (c), Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wk), Washington Sundar/Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Reddy, Harshit Rana/Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj.
– Ends