After a 9-0 victory in Sri Lanka, Virat Kohli & Co is ready to go against the mighty Australia from 17th of September. India is currently experimenting with their options in the process of making a core team for ICC World Cup 2019. Even though it is a noble thought but Australia is certainly not the right opponent to test the inexperienced players, instead India will have to hit the visitors with full force.
The selectors have made a fancy team selection with Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin still on rest. Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav have been brought back in the team for the first 3 ODI’s.
Well, Team India got into trouble during few ODI games in the recent Sri Lankan series, which showed many concerns in the team. So barring Virat, Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni, whose performances will be under scrutiny in this series?
Let’s check out the six players to watch out for against Australia:
1.) Manish Pandey:
After looting appreciation in South Africa A tour, Manish Pandey got his reward with a comeback against Sri Lanka and he grabbed it with both hands and played some promising knocks to reserve his place in the playing 11 for the first few games. Manish has scored a single century in his career so far and that too in his last encounter with Australia, he had a dream match on that day while making a ton in an intensified chase.
Pandey is the value added for the team in fielding but batting will be his major responsibility as he will be playing on the most talked position i.e. Number 4. Although he is most likely to get his chance in this series, he must perform as there is a long queue waiting to pass through the team’s gate.
2.) Kedar Jadhav:
Kedar Jadhav is the most talked name on the social media after his selection in the Australia series. He had a lukewarm series in Sri Lanka, but if something must have come to his rescue then it has to be his last inning while chasing in Colombo. Kedar who is not much impressive fielder rather poorest in the present squad somehow managed to retain his place in the team with his unorthodox batting style and gains in his handy part time bowling.
The 32 years old Kedar cannot afford to fail in this series as he had nothing much to showcase and also Suresh Raina is knocking the door with his Duleep trophy’s performance.
3.) Yuzvendra Chahal:
After Amit Mishra, Yuzvendra Chahal is the only leg spinner India had got and the way he has been constantly given opportunities, management seems very keen to groom him. He was primarily selected for the T20Is for India but as the two main spinners have been rested for this series as well, Chahal will get another chance to leave a mark and it might help him to cement his place in the team.
Though Chahal is not a big turner of the ball he is very effective in the limited overs, and his one good spell in the middle overs might make the difference against Australia. But with one wrist spinners in the competition and 2 prime spinners on the rest, just an ordinary performance will not make any good for him in the series.
4.) Kuldeep Yadav:
While other players in this list are more concerned about their individual performances in the team, Kuldeep Yadav’s case is different; he must be more worried about whether he will be getting his fair share in the team or not. Kuldeep has performed whenever he got a chance, we witnessed his performances in Sri Lanka and West Indies, but he has been unfortunate in the team selection. With Axar Patel as the primary wicket taking option for India, it will be an interesting call to pick Kuldeep in place of Chahal.
The Chinaman has played only once against Australia and that too in a Test match but he has impressive figures so far in all the formats. Looking at the Australian side, the U.P. lad has a potential to deceive many and can be a wicket taking the option for the skipper.
5.) Ajinkya Rahane:
The vice-captain of the Indian Test side is in the list of ambiguity and that is sad. A player like Ajinkya Rahane who is the backbone of Indian Test batting side is only touring every country in the colored jersey with the team but is yet to bring off the potential. In spite of being the man of the tournament in the West Indies against West Indies, he could not get a place in the playing 11 in Sri Lanka until Shikhar Dhawan had to leave the tournament; unfortunately, he again failed to make the most of his only opportunity in Lanka.
This time as well Dhawan will not join the team for the first 3 ODIs against Australia due to his personal reasons and now it will give Rahane few opportunities to prove his class.
6.) KL Rahul:
KL Rahul who is on his half century streak in the Tests is the new victim of experiments and the team making process in One Day Internationals. The management has decided to try Rahul in the middle order after Yuvraj’s omission against Sri Lanka and it was looking like the rational decision as he got all it requires, but as the series went on Rahul was uncomfortable in the middle and he was looking helpless against Sri Lankan spinners whereas other Indin batters were having the ball.
Now the issue is, has Rahul lost his opportunity for number 4 with Manish Pandey’s promising innings and opening slots being already full. If at all he gets an opportunity in the playing 11, he will have to give his best than his ordinary performances otherwise India might lose a great talent.
