India vs Australia, 3rd ODI preview, likely XIs: India, Australia seek batting improvement in Ranchi

India vs Australia, 3rd ODI preview, likely XIs: India, Australia seek batting improvement in Ranchi

India, Australia, Virat Kohli, Pat Cummins, Rohit Sharma, MS Dhoni, Vijay Shankar, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami

India are on a roll. The loss in the T20Is have proved to be an aberration, they have a 2-0 lead after victories in Hyderabad and Nagpur, and on Friday in Ranchi, the hosts will look to seal another series win.

Their bowlers have given India plenty to be pleased about. In the first ODI, it was Mohammed Shami. In Nagpur, it was Jasprit Bumrah (2/29) and Kuldeep Yadav (3/54) who topped the efforts of the Australian batsmen, in particular Marcus Stoinis.

Yadav chipped away in the middle overs and Bumrah got those crucial scalps in the death, allowing Vijay Shankar the platform to steal the show in the final over.

India still have plenty to think about. The batting hasn’t been of stuff that boosts confidence – both Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan have underperformed at the top, and Ambati Rayudu could do with some runs. While India needed Virat Kohli’s 40th century to rescue them in Nagpur, in the first ODI, MS Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav had to absorb pressure and see the chase through from a precarious position.

Batting is also the concern for Australia. Their put up a better show in Nagpur, and Marcus Stoinis’ half-century meant they were favourites to pull through before Shankar changed the script. However, more consistency is needed from the top order – they are getting starts, but have been unable to convert them.

Australia will be desperate to get it right in Ranchi. Lose, and India claim the series.

Head to head

With that victory in Nagpur, India have broken through with their home record against Australia – they now have 27 wins over 26 losses in 58 ODIs.

Over the last ten years, India have 13 ODIs against Australia at home, losing just seven. In fact, even taking into account overseas form, India and Australia have each won 17 ODIs against each other out of 37.

Unfortunately for Australia, the momentum, and form, is with India. In Ranchi – in MS Dhoni’s home town, no less, where a boisterous crowd is expected – they are up against it.

Venue details

India have played four ODIS in Ranchi. They have won two – against England and Sri Lanka in 2013 and 2014 – and lost one, against New Zealand in 2016. The other clash, the no-result, was against Australia in 2013.

The pitch at the JSCA International Stadium also usually something in it for the bowlers – the last ODI at the venue, in 2016, saw New Zealand successfully defend 260.

Weather isn’t expected to cause any problems. It’s clear and sunny in Ranchi on match-day, with temperatures peaking at just 28 °C.

Players to watch

Virat Kohli (India): The India skipper brought up yet another century – an incredible 40th in ODIS – on a slow, difficult surface in Nagpur. He’s in excellent touch, and with the rest of the top order yet to fully convince, more of the same is expected from the captain.

Pat Cummins (Australia): India’s batsmen have struggled, largely, on this tour. And a lot of that is down to the excellent Cummins. He returned a brilliant 4/29 in Nagpur, having gone wicket-less in Hyderabad, and he’s a bit of streak bowler – once he gets going, it’s hard to stop him. India will need to watch out.

Likely XIs:

India: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli (c), Ambati Rayudu, Vijay Shankar, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni (wk), Kuldeep Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah

Australia: Aaron Finch (c), Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey (wk), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Adam Zampa.

Prediction

India to once again prevail in another low-scoring thriller.