India vs Australia, 4th ODI preview, likely XIs: India set to ring the changes in crunch clash

India vs Australia, 4th ODI preview, likely XIs: India set to ring the changes in crunch clash

India Australia 4th ODI Mohali Virat Kohli Usman Khawaja Bhuvneshwar Kumar Adam Zampa

Australia’s win in Ranchi has injected much-needed, thrilling life into this series. They head in to the fourth one-day international in Mohali with the real possibility of levelling the series.

The visitors got a lot right in the third ODI. Their batsmen finally came good on their starts, with Usman Khawaja scoring his maiden century in the format, and Aaron Finch, he who has been struggling to get bat on ball for most of the last few months, unfortunate to fall seven short of what would have been a useful century.

Their bowlers have generally been good this series, and there was more of the same, with Pat Cummins, Adam Zampa, and Jhye Richardson all picking three wickets to keep India to 281. Virat Kohli seemed to be the only one able to defy them.

And suddenly, the momentum is with Australia. India’s batting troubles have shown no signs of abating. Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma have struggled to find runs. Ambati Rayudu hasn’t been making much use of his chances to secure his World Cup place at No.4, and the middle order has generally been shaky. In Ranchi, even the Indian bowlers struggled, with Australia posting a sizeable 313/5.

And so, changes have been promised by both Kohli and Sanjay Bangar, the batting coach. MS Dhoni, for one, will be rested, with Rishabh Pant set to be given a couple of outings. Bhuvneshwar Kumar might also come in, with Mohammed Shami taking a hit to the shin.

Rayudu might be dropped, with KL Rahul waiting in the wings, and even Kuldeep Yadav might be given a rest, with Yuzvendra Chahal yet to play the ODIs against Australia.

Will the changes help India returning to winning ways?  

Head to head

The loss in Ranchi was India’s 75th in an ODI against Australia, and their 27th at home. India have won 49 matches in all against the Aussies, but 27 of those have come at home, in 59 matches.

India have had the better of Australia at home over the last ten years, though. They’ve won 13 and lost 8 of their 22 matches.

Will they better that record in Mohali?

Venue details

The Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium has hosted a few of these matches, the first of them coming way back in 1996. It was the only match, out of four, that India have won – half-centuries from Sachin Tendulkar, Mohammad Azharuddin and Rahul Dravid, followed by a three-wicket haul from Anil Kumble did it for India that day, just about.

Since then, India have lost three ODIs against Australia here – in 2006, 2009 and 2013 – by six wickets, 24 runs and four wickets respectively. That isn’t in keeping with India’s regular form in ODIs here – in 15 matches, India have won ten.

Mohali is known for its flat track. It might just be the platform for the Indian batsmen to rediscover some form. Teams batting first have won 15 out of 24 times at this venue – dew is usually a factor in the second innings – and that will be considered during toss.

Players to watch

Bhuvneshwar Kumar (India): The paceman has been an unfortunate victim of India’s supreme attack in recent times – an injury last year has pushed him to the periphery. He will be desperate to make his mark, should he be picked as expected. There’s a World Cup in England coming up, and he won’t want to miss it.  

Adam Zampa (Australia): The plaudits in limited-overs series are usually restricted to India’s two wrist-spinners – Kuldeep and Chahal – but Zampa has been stellar this tour. He’s among the top-wicket takers so far in this series, and more of the same is expected. India will be wary.  

Likely XIs

India: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli (c), KL Rahul, Vijay Shankar, Kedar Jadhav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 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

The changes to come good to make it 3-1, and later, 4-1, for India.