Xtra Time Web Desk: Virat Kohli and his team will play for pride as they take on Australia in the 3rd and final ODI of the series at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on Wednesday. Aaron Finch’s men have already sealed the three match series courtesy their comprehensive wins in the first two ODIs at the SCG.
The Indians were left chasing shadows in the first two games, such has been the dominance of the hosts in the first two ODIs. The Men in Blue are likely to tweak a few combinations in their bowling department as was evident from their optional training session at the Manuka Oval. T Natarajan and Shardul Thakur were given an extended bowling at the nets.
Navdeep Saini, India’s fastest bowler, like a lot of others on his first tour of Australia, has looked clueless. Such has been his plight that Kohli was forced to bowl a half-fit (bowling wise) Hardik Pandya and even Mayanak Agarwal to complete Saini’s spell after he gave away 70 runs in seven overs.
It could well be possible that one among Shardul Thakur, with an experience of 27 international games, or the ‘yorker sensation’ rookie left-armer Thangarasu Natarajan will be seen replacing Saini.
In case of Natarajan, it could be his international debut and a chance to test himself in an inconsequential game before the start of the T20 series where he is sure to play a part.
It could well be a case of both Shardul and Natarajan being given a go in case Kohli decides to rest both Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, who need to remain fit and fresh for the big-ticket Test series.
Never had an Indian attack looked so out of sorts as it did in the two games — hit for 69 boundaries and 19 sixes.
If the pacers have had their share of woes, the spinners have only compounded worries with their inept performances. Yuzvendra Chahal has been the most expensive bowler in the first two games with 160 runs conceded in 19 overs and just one wicket to show for his efforts. Ravindra Jadeja, on the other hand, has looked flat despite a decent economy rate of 6.15. The result, wicketless in both games. The team management can well think about playing Kuldeep Yadav or Washington Sundar.
A 0-3 defeat against Australia would be their second rout in consecutive ODI series having met the same fate in New Zealand earlier this year.
With Inputs from PTI