India vs Australia 2019: 3 key points from the ODI series

#3. India’s over-reliance on top 3

If there is one big area of concern for the men in blue going into the World Cup, it’s their middle order batting which will be their Achilles heel. The team has been on the lookout for a solid No. 4 batsman for quite a while now but after trying out so many players in the last year or so, no one has cemented that spot yet.

Before the Australia series, Ambati Rayudu looked certain especially after a good 90 in the 5th and final ODI against New Zealand away from home. But his shortcomings were exposed by Aussie quicks in the series.

It was expected that Tamil Nadu’s Vijay Shankar could grab that slot but he wasn’t tried at that position. The likes of KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant were given just a single opportunity.

It is very evident now that Indian batting is over-reliant on the top 3 and if opposition teams can get one or two early wickets, they would know that Kohli’s men could be put under serious pressure with a brittle middle order.