India vs Australia 2019: 3 reasons why losing the ODI series could be a blessing in disguise for India

A series that was considered to be a mere dress rehearsal for the upcoming ICC World Cup 2019 against a supposedly weak Australian side, turned out to be a black spot on India's ODI home record.

Surprisingly, the visitors ended up winning the series 3-2 against a strong Indian team. The last time the Men in Blue lost a bilateral ODI series in their own backyard was way back in 2015 against a powerful South African team.

Considering India’s recent form, the Australian captain Aaron Finch and recently appointed coach Justin Langer would not have imagined winning a series against India at their home turf - especially bearing in mind that the very same team had convincingly thrashed them in their own backyard just a few months ago.

In fact, many cricket experts expected it be a whitewash. But they were proven absolutely wrong due to some exceptional cricket played by the Australian team throughout the series.

Without a doubt, the Indian team management will be extremely disappointed with the series outcome. However, this may just be the much-needed setback before the all-important ICC World Cup 2019 coming ahead.

As a matter of fact, losing the home ODI series against the inexperienced Australian side is in a way a blessing in disguise for Team India. Here are three reasons why:

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#1 An eye opener about the chinks in the armor

India v Australia - ODI Series: Game 5

As they say, you either win or you learn. A lot of times, a winning team tends to avoid diving deep into the areas of concern and instead just celebrates the positives. However, a series defeat invariably forces the team to dig deep and analyze every single error with microscopic eyes.

A home ODI series loss is a much-needed eye-opener for Team India just ahead of the ICC World Cup 2019. It will enable the team management to analyze their shortcomings and work towards rectifying them.

One key weakness that was certainly discovered was India's ability to deliver results when placed under pressure. On several situations, the Men in Blue were cornered at critical game situations and unfortunately, they could not absorb the pressure and eventually succumbed.

Over the course of the mega tournament, it is very much expected that the team will come under immense pressure on just not one but on several occasions. And the way the team plays through such scenarios will determine India's fate in the mega event.

#2 A guard against over-confidence

Team India

Since June 2016, Team India has won every ODI series against every opponent around the world except ICC Champions Trophy (England) and the away series versus England. They cannot be blamed for being a little overconfident; after all, they have thrashed everyone they have played in the last three years.

Confidence is a great trait and is extremely vital going into a big tournament like the ICC World Cup. But just a little too much of it, and you may end up repenting your actions for years.

An unexpected home ODI series loss despite playing their best XI (almost) will keep them grounded. More importantly, it will remind them that they are not invincible, and that a poor performance will lead to a defeat.

Going by the stats, they may look a far better side on paper than any other, but they should not consider any team easy. There have been quite a few World Cup upsets in the past; Indian fans will undoubtedly remember their team's ICC World Cup 2007 campaign, which came to an miserable end with an extremely disappointing loss against Bangladesh.

Needless to say, India needs to maintain the same level of intensity against every opponent to avoid any upsets at the mega event. And a loss against the weak Australian on home soil will ensure that no complacency sneaks in.

#3 A guide to team selection

KL Rahul

Through constant experimentation over the years, the Indian team management has successfully created a pool of extremely talented players. However, despite a lot of efforts, the think tank has not been able to sort out a few issues – the No. 4 slot, the backup opener, the finisher and the backup wicket-keeper.

Still in pursuit for those answers, the selectors chose to once again give opportunities to young talented players like KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant. In the very limited opportunities they received, they showed glimpses of their potential. However, they could not transform their starts into match-winning performances and therefore, could not really make a big impression with their presence.

A good performance here would have only enhanced the selectors’ dilemma in choosing young talent over experienced veterans. The below-par performances of Rahul and Pant have probably eased the decision-making of the management; they are now likely to go with experience rather than youth, which may be a wise decision considering the intensity of the marquee event.