3 changes India should make for the 2nd ODI at Adelaide

After the unexpected loss in the first ODI at Sydney to a new-look Australian team, the second ODI at Adelaide becomes a do-or-die match for India. A loss at Adelaide would mean a shock series loss, and dent the confidence of a team that wants to fine-tune its preparation for the upcoming World Cup.

India must make suitable changes in the squad to redress the balance that was missing in the first ODI. To have the best chance of winning the match and keeping the series alive, India must first get its team selection right.

Here are the three changes that India should consider making in the team that put up a dismal show at Sydney.

#1 Vijay Shankar in place of Ravindra Jadeja

India dearly missed the services of Hardik Pandya, its only pace-bowling all-rounder in the squad. But with Vijay Shankar being flown in as replacement, they should not waste any time in bringing in Shankar to the playing eleven.

Jadeja may have bowled decently in the first ODI, but India needs a pace-bowling all-rounder in the side, especially in Australian conditions. Shankar is also a handy batsman and a good bowler. His inclusion in the eleven will help redress the balance of the side that was missing in the last match.

#2 Yuzvendra Chahal in place of Khaleel Ahmed

Yuzvendra Chahal

Though the young left-arm pace bowler Khaleel Ahmed brings in variety to the Indian bowling side and is thus a possible option for the World Cup squad, on pitches not conducive to swing, he can go for plenty.

He was almost unplayable in the Mumbai ODI against West Indies, but he was expensive on other grounds that had little swing on offer. The same story has continued during the Australia trip.

On the other hand, the wrist spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has helped restrict the flow of runs in many ODIs in the last two years and forms one of the deadliest bowling pair with Kuldeep Yadav.

Most Aussie batters are uncomfortable against quality wrist spin and that is what Chahal brings to the mix – quality.

#3 Kedar Jadhav in place of Dinesh Karthik

Kedar Jadhav

Kedar Jadhav is the only one among the Indian batsmen who has the ability to contribute with the ball. As was seen in the last match, Ambati Rayudu is nowhere close to being India’s sixth bowler.

As things stand now, he has been reported for suspect action. But despite his failure with the bat in the last match, he has proved his worth as a solid middle order batsman. He must be persisted with as India’s number four.

However, India must find a way of bringing in Jadhav into the playing eleven. The only way they could do so under the circumstances is to drop Karthik.

That may be a tad unfair to Karthik, but without Jadhav in the side, Kohli will not have the option of having two players in the side who could help bowling the quota of 10 overs for the fifth bowler. With Jadhav and Shankar in the side, Kohli will have the choice to use either pace or spin for the remaining ten overs, apart from the quota of 40 overs bowled by the four front-line bowlers.