Hindustan Surkhiyan Desk: India may have found relief with MS Dhoni’s return to form but the third seamer continues to be a big headache ahead of the series-deciding third ODI at Melbourne on Friday.
The three-match series is level at 1-1 after Australia won the first ODI in Sydney by 34 runs and India won the second in Adelaide by six wickets.
Apart from keeping the series alive, the biggest positive for India in Adelaide was Dhoni’s form. The former captain who has been struggling to get going for a long period of time finally got his mojo back, not exactly in his trademark blistering manner but in a way that is enough to silence his critics.
Dhoni remained unbeaten on 55 off 54 balls and also hit a six in the last over off Jason Behrendorff to knock off the 299-run target to level the series. Dhoni was ably supported by Dinesh Karthik, who played a nice 14-ball 25-run cameo. Dhoni-Karthik’s form brought big relief to the Indian side, which had just started to worry about their middle-order ahead of the World Cup.
However, the same cannot be said about their fast bowling department. Captain Kohli had set out to find back-up options for Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar but the youngsters – Khaleel Ahmed, Mohammed Siraj – auditioning for the slot have been far from impressive.
Khaleel not only had troubles in finding the correct line and length but also overstepped twice in the first ODI at Sydney, conceding 55 runs in his 8 overs. His replacement Siraj was even more disappointing. Coming in the squad on the back of some stellar performances for India A and in domestic cricket, Siraj was way off his length. He was clobbered for 76 runs on debut in Sydney.
With Virat Kohli not keen on bowling Ambati Rayudu again in the series, they need to get their five-bowler attack right on the money.
Seam bowling all-rounder Vijay Shankar and leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal are in contention and both had a rigorous workout during the optional training session on Thursday at the MCG.
Shankar provides the third seam bowling option, and as an extra batsman, elongates the batting line-up. However, the argument against Shankar is whether the Indian team management can trust him enough to deliver 10 overs on ODI debut.
Siraj struggled to do so and Kohli was left wondering how he would bowl him for a last three-over spell. This is where Chahal might prove to be a more reliable option, even if India have to play two pacers and three spinners.
The bigger boundaries at the MCG, and Chahal’s ability to bowl economical and attacking spells as well as use the new ball within the first 10 overs, might be a factor in his favour.
If Kohli does pick Shankar for his ODI debut, it would disturb the set batting line-up and make space for Kedar Jadhav. The fifth bowler’s 10 overs can then be divided between Jadhav and Shankar. This move would mean one of Ambati Rayudu or Dinesh Karthik will be left out.
