India vs Australia 2019: 3 Changes India could make for the 4th ODI

Australia kept the five-match ODI series against India alive with a comprehensive 32-run victory in Ranchi.

The favourable outcome ensured that the hosts didn’t take an unassailable lead while it handed Australia only their fourth ODI win since the start of 2018.

After an unsuccessful homecoming for MS Dhoni, the action now shifts to Mohali where the home side would want to wrap up the series. However, the Indians will have to make do without the services of their mercurial wicket-keeper with Dhoni being accorded a rest for the final two games.

Additionally, a few of the Indian players haven’t yet set the world on fire and hence, the hosts might be tempted to tweak things a touch to ensure a smoother route to success.

Thus, through the course of this article, we would chalk out three changes the Indians might contemplate ahead of the encounter at Mohali.

Here is a look at them:

(Rishabh Pant replacing MS Dhoni is a near certainty. Therefore, the above change hasn’t been taken into account in our list.)

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#3. Play Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Bhuvneshwar has been superb this year

Bhuvneshwar Kumar started off the year in spectacular fashion and was one of the architects of India’s historic ODI series triumph in Australia and New Zealand. In Bumrah’s absence, the lad from Uttar Pradesh led the bowling attack superbly.

Thus, having played a starring role in two gruelling series, the Indians decided to afford him the luxury of a rest during the T20I engagement against Australia and the first two ODIs that followed.

However, after a period on the sidelines, he made a return before the ODI at Ranchi. Though he didn’t feature in the 3rd game, all signs point to him returning on Sunday.

Blessed with the ability to move the ball both ways, the pacer would be a handful on the traditionally sporting pitch at Mohali. Moreover, his ability to keep things quiet at the start would go a long way in helping India establish supremacy over their Southern Hemisphere counterparts.

In addition, he would also lend some batting strength in the lower order with his propensity to come up with crucial contributions.

In the past few months, there have been whispers that Bhuvneshwar might not be the first choice seamer after all. Shami’s resurgence coupled with the extra pace he brings to the table were considered adequate to push the former out of the door.

However, the latter isn’t nearly as consistent and fails to offer the control of Bhuvneshwar. Hence, one shouldn’t be too surprised if he replaces Shami in the eleven for the 4th ODI.

#2. Bring back Yuzvendra Chahal

Chahal's wicket-taking abilities have been missed

To the surprise of many, India has omitted Yuzvendra Chahal from the eleven for each of the ODIs so far. The leg-spinner has been in top form and against an opposition susceptible to wrist-spin, many expected him to take the field.

Yet, the team management has preferred Ravindra Jadeja with the latter’s batting prowess placing him on a higher pedestal. However, the left-arm spinner hasn’t been menacing in the middle overs and has been looked upon as an easy scoring option by the Aussies.

In addition, his tendency to not take wickets in the middle has mounted the pressure on Kuldeep Yadav.

Hence, India would be better served in replacing Jadeja with a genuine match-winner in Chahal.

Moreover, the leg-spinner would be helped by the bouncy nature of the Mohali pitch.

Over the past couple of years, India’s biggest strength has been its bowling and in particular, the spin department. On countless occasions, the spinners have stemmed the run flow while also picking up wickets at important junctures.

Thus, with the series tantalisingly poised at 2-1, India would be extremely naïve to leave Chahal out for a crunch game.

#1. Include KL Rahul

KL Rahul was scintillating in the T20I series

After a tumultuous 2018, KL Rahul finally seemed to regain his mojo in the T20I series against Australia. The opener’s time away from the game helped him introspect and he now looks primed to stake a claim for a spot in the World Cup party.

In the T20Is, Rahul was back to his belligerent best. He didn’t bat with a cluttered mind and the results were spectacular. In both of his innings, he struck the ball cleanly and kept up with his reputation of manufacturing shots off good deliveries.

However, with the ODI series being the only dress rehearsal before the mega-event in England, Rahul was left out of the initial three matches.

Yet, with Ambati Rayudu and Shikhar Dhawan not covering themselves in glory, it would be brave of the Indians to keep two misfiring batsmen in the eleven at the expense of an in-form batsman.

The World Cup is nearly upon us and time is running out for Rahul to cement a place. And with only a couple of ODIs left before the multi-nation tournament, India just has to include KL Rahul.