cricket

Updated: Mar 13, 2019 09:36 IST

Ashton Turner scripted an amazing heist in Mohali and suddenly after dominating for most parts of the series, the Indian team is locked in a battle with the hosts - the series is on the line, and both sides seem to have bases covered to walk away with the winner’s trophy.

For India, there was much talk about the World Cup and giving new faces an opportunity to take up the mantle, but now the team management would want to focus all their energy into winning this series.

We take a look at the predicted XI of India for the final ODI at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium in Delhi.

Rohit Sharma

After a string of low scores, Rohit Sharma roared back to form in Mohali with a bright and breezy 95. He missed out on a well-deserved century, but his runs at the top of the order sure is a great sign for the side. This was his first half-century in six innings. The vice-captain thrashed seven fours and two sixes and strung a 193-run partnership for the first wicket with Shikhar Dhawan. They have recorded the highest number of century stands (five) against Australia.

Shikhar Dhawan

Shikhar Dhawan does not focus on anything negative said about him and rightly so, he shunted away all doubts over his position as the opener with a sparkling century in Mohali and even though, India lost the match, a firing Dhawan at the top of the order is just the perfect way for the side to approach the World Cup.

Virat Kohli

The captain pushed himself to number 4 in Mohali to accommodate KL Rahul, but he should be back at number 3 in this must-win game and take control of proceedings. Kohli, who already has 2 centuries in the series, would want to lead from the front and get the job done with the bat and then as the skipper of the side.

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KL Rahul

He was included in the side in place of Ambati Rayudu, and KL Rahul did not look too bad in Mohali. He got out at the wrong time for India, but the management would want to give him one final go before the World Cup and this is the chance for the right-hander to stake his claim as the backup opener or the middle order option for the side.

Rishabh Pant

The young wicket-keeper encountered the fleeting nature of the game in Mohali, perhaps for the first time in this career. He looked great with the bat and played his part as a batsman with a score of 36 runs from 24 balls, but his mistakes behind the stumps cost India the match. The wicket-keeper missed three stumping chances and the captain wasn’t impressed when Pant tried to effect a run out by pulling off a no look back flick. When Yuzvendra Chahal bowled a wide in the 44th over, Pant could have easily stumped Ashton Turner, since he was outside of the crease. But Pant failed to gather the ball in time. Turner, who was on 38 at that time, went on to play a match-winning innings of 84* runs.

Kedar Jadhav

He has been a valuable addition to this Indian side over the last 15 months, but Mohali was an aberration for Jadhav. He could not contribute enough with the bat and the Australians attacked him when he bowled. He needs to figure out a plan B with the ball and take up more responsibility with the bat in Delhi.

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Vijay Shankar

The Tami Nadu all-rounder has only gone from strength to strength in the limited games he has got and could one more game to earn a more permanent spot in the side. In Mohali, he provided the perfect finish for India with an innings of 26 runs from 15 balls. Shankar struck one four and two sixes during his innings. The all-rounder chipped in with an economical spell as well. Shankar conceded 29 runs in five overs for no wicket.

Ravindra Jadeja

On the slow, sluggish Kotla pitch, Ravindra Jadeja could replace Vijay Shankar. While Shankar has done whatever have been asked of him in the recent past, the addition of Jadeja could be a tactical move from India considering the conditions and this could be his final chance to book his berth for the World Cup squad. He could replace Yuzvendra Chahal, who was very expensive in Mohali.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Captain Virat Kohli spoke about the dew and how it became increasingly difficult for the bowlers to have any control during the back end of the Mohali ODI. However, Bhuvneshwar now needs to step up and take control of proceedings and get the job done in Mohali where India would need the senior players to play a major role.

Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep Yadav got the big wicket of Glenn Maxwell but even he was taken for runs in the fourth ODI. The chinaman bowler conceded 64 runs in his 10 overs, in which he was hit for four boundaries and a six. Kuldeep plays a crucial role in the middle overs and more wickets are expected from him, especially if the conditions suit him in Delhi.

Jasprit Bumrah

India’s leader of the bowling attack had a rare off day as a death bowler when he was taken for 16 runs in the 46th over. The fast bowler picked up three wickets, but couldn’t control his economy rate. Bumrah conceded 63 runs in 8.5 overs. He was hit for seven fours and one six during the Australian innings and would want to hit back and reclaim lost ground in Delhi.