Australia vs India 2019: 3 Changes India need to make for the 2nd ODI

The Indian team were handed a wake-up call at Sydney on Saturday as the #2 ranked ODI side in the world stumbled to a 34-run defeat. Though the win was a confidence booster for the Aussies, it again highlighted the frailties India possesses.

Like many a time before, the visitors’ middle order failed to see the team through after their top order fell cheaply. Though MS Dhoni notched a half-century, the slow pace of his innings mounted immense pressure on Rohit, who was left to wage a lone battle.

The action now shifts to the Adelaide Oval and with the match being a three-match series, a failure to win in South Australia would condemn India to their first series defeat on the current tour Down Under.

India haven’t lost a lot of matches over the last couple of years yet the team balance and the strategies somehow didn’t look in place at the SCG. Thus, through the course of this article, we would take a glimpse at what changes India needs to make in order to emerge victorious.

---

#3 Bring in Siraj for Khaleel Ahmed

Siraj needs to be handed his debut at Adelaide

India fielded three fast bowlers at the SCG and went in with Khaleel Ahmed to complement the experienced pair of Shami and Bhuvneshwar. However, the left-arm pacer failed to inspire and was probably one of India’s poorest bowlers on the day.

Khaleel made his debut in the 2018 Asia Cup and impressed everyone with the zip he generated off the pitch. But, at the SCG, Khaleel failed to consistently breach the 140 kmph mark, thus becoming easy fodder for the batsmen.

Moreover, his ability to change his pace with subtlety cast him as a useful option at the death.

However, as time has gone on, people have worked him out a little and now have better game-plans in place. Though Khaleel is an exciting prospect and surely is one to keep an eye on, India needs to accord him a little time away so that the pacer can re-invent himself and become potent again. His potential replacement could be Mohammed Siraj.

Siraj was brought into the setup after Bumrah was withdrawn from the squad. The right-arm pacer has been setting the domestic scene ablaze with his displays and hence, the time could be right to gamble on him.

Capable of bowling at a brisk pace, Siraj could be a real handful on the lively Adelaide wicket. If Siraj actually comes in for Khaleel after one bad game for the latter is up for debate. Yet, on evidence, it seems that the former could just have more of an impact.

#2 Play Yuzvendra Chahal

Chahal would be a genuine wicket-taking option in the middle overs

Yuzvendra Chahal’s place in the eleven seemed to be forged in steel till the Asia Cup. However, an injury to Pandya coupled with Jadeja’s resurgence has seen the leg-spinner on the periphery recently.

At the SCG, India failed to make deep inroads into the Australian batting-line in the middle phases. Though they got the better of Marsh and Khawaja, they still left themselves with a lot to do in the death overs.

The Aussies eventually scored 93 runs in the final ten overs and posted a total which was just beyond India’s reach. However, had India been a little more proactive in the middle overs, the possibility of such an onslaught would’ve reduced considerably.

Chahal is a genuine wicket-taker and very rarely finishes a match without a wicket in his bag. Additionally, his leg-spin complements Kuldeep’s trickery perfectly as the pair don’t let the opposition get on top and even when they try to do so, the batsmen invariably perish.

Moreover, the Aussie batsmen are highly susceptible against wrist spin with their troubles against Shadab Khan and Adil Rashid driving home the fact.

In Pandya’s absence, the inclusion of Chahal would require at least a couple of changes to the team. Whether they bring in Vijay Shankar to be the all-rounder and play Chahal as the second spinner or add the latter as a third spinner is anyone’s guess right.

Yet, one just gets the feeling that if India are to topple the Australians at Adelaide, a reunion of the ‘spin twins’ is a must.

#1 Bring in Kedar Jadhav for Dinesh Karthik

Jadhav needs to come into the fold

The Indian team gave Dinesh Karthik the nod ahead of Kedar Jadhav, to the bewilderment of many. The wicket-keeper batsmen fluffed his chance to win the match for India and though it would be too harsh to abandon him after just a bad game, omitting him might just lend the team more balance.

Jadhav has been highly injury-prone and hence, hasn’t been able to nail down a spot in India’s eleven over the years. The right-hander captured everyone’s imagination at the start of his career with his hitting yet has slightly gone off the boil recently.

Though his batting may not be too superior to Karthik, Jadhav’s attribute to double up as a bowler highlights him as a better option in the team.

None of India’s top four can be relied upon to get through overs. Therefore, the luxury of being able to bank upon a part-time bowler is one India can’t keep ignoring.

It is funny how a batsman is earning brownie points for his ability to bowl. Yet, that is the exceptional circumstance the team currently finds itself under. And extraordinary circumstances do indeed call for extraordinary measures.