The focus will as soon as once more be on Okay. L. Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja when India take on Australia within the second ODI in Visakhapatnam on Sunday, with common captain Rohit Sharma returning to lead the aspect after lacking the opening sport in Mumbai.
India defeated Australia by 5 wickets in a low-scoring sport on the Wankhede Stadium, with Rahul, who struggled to discover type throughout the Border-Gavaskar series main to him being dropped for the third and fourth Tests, scoring a affected person unbeaten 75 as the hosts cantered residence.
Jadeja, taking part in ODI cricket after practically eight months due to a knee harm and subsequent surgical procedure, scored an unbeaten 45 within the chase of 188 on Friday. He additionally bowled a good spell and returned figures of two/46 to be declared ‘Player of the Match’.
With the ODI World Cup being hosted by India later this yr, an in-form Rahul and a fully-fit Jadeja will probably be an asset, and the three-match series will assist the selectors assess the duo’s progress.
India would look to take an unassailable 2-0 lead within the series and in addition strive to make amends with the bat, after they had been in a spot of hassle at 4/39, and later 5/83, earlier than Rahul and Jadeja got here collectively on the crease to information the hosts to victory with 61 balls to spare.
Rohit Sharma’s return to captaincy duties will definitely give solidity to the highest order, which crumbled to the tempo and variations of Australian fast Mitchell Starc. The lanky left-arm pacer’s three-wicket burst at first put India below great stress, with Virat Kohli (4), Suryakumar Yadav (0) and Shubman Gill (20) departing in fast succession after Marcus Stoinis had made an early dent by dismissing Ishan Kishan for 3 runs.
Indian batters have sometimes appeared tentative towards high quality left-arm pacers, and going through Starc within the remaining two video games ought to give them good follow in residence circumstances, with efforts centered in direction of making preparations for the World Cup in October-November. With Sharma set to open, Kishan will doubtless make method for the common captain.
While not a lot must be learn into Kohli and Gill’s below-par scores within the first ODI, Suryakumar Yadav not having the ability to discover his mojo within the 50-over format is a purpose for concern.
A marauder with the bat in T20Is, Suryakumar is evidently nonetheless discovering his toes in ODIs. He has gone and not using a fifty in all 5 ODIs this yr. Surya has now performed 15 ODIs (13 innings) and not using a rating exceeding 50. However, with no timeline set for Shreyas Iyer’s return, India will maintain auditioning Suryakumar for the function at No. 4.
India’s bowling did an incredible job in Mumbai with pacers Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj flourishing on a pace-friendly Wankhede pitch. But wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav couldn’t make a powerful impression.
However, the group administration shouldn’t be anticipated to tinker with the bowling line-up, with Pandya taking part in the function of a 3rd seamer to perfection in Mumbai. The climate forecast for the second ODI is of scattered thunderstorms at the least within the first half, which additionally implies that pacers from both aspect can swing the ball if the circumstances are windy.
Australia need to check out completely different mixtures throughout the series. On Friday, they went in with 4 all-rounders — Mitchell Marsh, Cameron Green, Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell — and nonetheless could not bother India a lot, which might be a priority for captain Steve Smith.
As a makeshift opener within the absence of David Warner, Marsh offered a speedy begin with a 65-ball 81 however Australia misplaced the best way within the center overs, crashing from 129/2 to 188 all out towards high quality tempo in Mumbai. The guests misplaced six wickets for a meagre 19 runs regardless of having a deep batting line-up, one thing that they’ll look to work on.
Smith and Marnus Labuschagne could have encountered ‘tough’ pitches within the Test series however the wickets for ODIs in India are normally batter-friendly, and each the Aussie mainstays will probably be anticipated to do extra.
Smith has not crossed the 50-run mark to date on this India tour. For somebody who has a mountain of runs towards India, the Australian stand-in skipper will look to finish the drought.
Australia’s quick bowling appeared terrific in Mumbai, with Sean Abbott conserving a lid on the Indians with tight traces and Green and Stoinis additionally chipping in.
Squads
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Okay L Rahul (wk), Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohd Shami, Mohd Siraj, Umran Malik, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Jaydev Unadkat.
Australia: David Warner, Travis Head, Steven Smith (c), Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa. Match time: 1.30 p.m. IST.
