5 changes India should look at making after the ODI series loss against Australia

India might have lost the ODI series to Australia 4-1, but it was anything but a one-sided series. In fact, the series was one India should probably have won, especially given the positions they were in the games.In the crunch situations, the visitors were unable to make it count and that was the reason for the margin of defeat. It probably would have been a whitewash, if it weren't for the exploits of Manish Pandey, who along with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, emerged as some of the positives from this tour.Although India are still ranked No.2 in the world, they need to make a few changes if they are to hold onto their spot or even challenge Australia for the top spot.Here are 5 changes India should look at making after the ODI series loss against Australia:

#5 Find an all-rounder

Jadeja isn’t good enough with the bat to be labelled an all-rounder

Ravindra Jadeja is a player that divides opinion at the best of times. In the Australia series, although his bowling was good, considering the runs the others were leaking, his batting was found wanting. He showed despite his heroics with the bat on this day in 2014 in Auckland, when he kept the series against New Zealand alive and tied an improbable game, he isn't an all-rounder.

At best, he is a good bowler, who can hit a few out of the park, if he gets it in his zone. If India want someone to play at No.5 or No.6, they need someone who has the ability to finish games, like Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh or even Suresh Raina has, not one who is going to pass on the responsibility to debutants like Jadeja did in the fourth ODI.

Whether it is the in-form Irfan Pathan or even Hardik Pandya, who was excellent in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, India need a finisher at No.7 and Jadeja, while a good bowler, isn't that. So India's quest for an all-rounder continues.

#4 Settle on a bowling lineup and trust them

Bumrah made an impressive debut, but can he continue to impress?

Although India changed the bowling attack on quite a few occasions in the series, only some were due to tactical reasons, others were mainly enforced due to injuries. But one glaring observation from the entire series is the lack of trust on the bowlers, which was evident from Dhoni's words that they needed at least 330 to win a match.

In many ways, the problem is not just with the bowlers, who admittedly didn't bowl exceptionally well, but also with the captain, who doesn't trust the bowler as much as he should. Barinder Sran and Jasprit Bumrah, who both made their debuts in the series were impressive while Umesh Yadav continued to be erratic.

Until Mohammed Shami returns, India would do well stick with these three pacers and Ravichandran Ashwin and pick another all-rounder or spinner depending on the conditions. When the bowlers know that their place is not in danger after every game and they have the complete backing of the captain, it is remarkable how well they do.

#3 Find the next finisher

Can Pandey be India's next finisher?

One of India's problems throughout the series wasn't their inability to get off to a good start or pick up early wickets with the ball, but it was their ability to make hay between overs 30-50. In the first three matches, all of which India lost, it came down to their inability to convert a total of 300 into 330.

While some of that can be attributed to the lack of experience in the middle-order apart from MS Dhoni. The fact that Ajinkya Rahane, who is more of an opener than a finisher was asked to increase the tempo in the final overs spoke volumes about the lack of finishers India currently possess.

For a long time, India have relied on the big-hitting prowess of Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni, but with the former not in the side and the latter, not the player he once was, India found it difficult. Although Manish Pandey did well in the final game to marshal the chase, India still need to find the right middle-order with explosive hitters.

#2 Groom a successor for MS Dhoni

Dhoni cannot continue forever

MS Dhoni's sarcastic response to whether he is going to retire from ODIs drew plenty of attention. But whether he retires now or a few more months down the line, one thing is for certain, India need a new wicket keeper once Dhoni hangs up his boots.

Given they took a while to find a proper replacement for him in the Test arena, it seems only logical that the same happens in this format as well. But India, unfortunately. don't have too much time to bed them in as the next few months are going to be all about T20s.

Whether they opt for the experience of Robin Uthappa or the youthful exuberance of Sanju Samson, India have their work cut out to find a replacement for Dhoni. That is not just because of his experience and calmness under pressure, but also, because all of the good limited-overs wicketkeepers in the country are top-order batsmen and there aren't that many good keepers who bat at No.6 and No.7.

#1 Play your best bowler

Ashwin shouldn’t just be discarded as easily as he was in the VB series

Everybody has an off day. No matter whether you are the best bowler in the world or just another bowler, there are days when you bowl as though you are the best in the business and other days when nothing just goes for you.

In the first two ODIs, Ravichandran Ashwin, who has been India's primary source of wickets over the past year, didn't enjoy too much success. While it is easy to blame him for failing again in conditions that are not conducive to spin, the hammering Nathan Lyon took in the final ODI showed that this was a series for the batsmen.

If India are to win games, especially outside their own turf, they need to play their best bowler, even if he has an off day or two. After all, what message does it send to Ashwin that he is dropped after two matches, especially after the year that he enjoyed in 2015?