India will have their pride at stake when they lock horns with Australia in the final ODI of the three-match series at Canberra on Wednesday. The visitors have already lost the series having faced defeats in the first two ODIs. Their bowlers have looked absolutely clueless as they have conceded 350+ totals in both of the matches so far. The Indian batsmen have tried their best but they have had too much to chase on both occasions.
Australia, on the other hand, have been in superb form as a team. Their top three of Aaron Finch, David Warner and Steven Smith have been in top-notch form. Smith has registered back-to-back centuries in both matches whereas Warner has two fifties to his name as well. The skipper, Finch, has played his part as well with a century in the first match and another fifty in the second ODI. We saw Marnus Labuschagne stepping up with a fifty in the last match as well, whereas Glenn Maxwell has given Australia the late impetus in their innings with his explosive batting. The bowlers haven’t had much to do either with a mammoth total to defend on each occasion. India will need to fare better with their bowling in order to get a result in their favour in the final match.
Team News
India is expected to make some changes to their Playing XI for the final match. Shreyas Iyer hasn’t done that well and hence, we might see him making way for Manish Pandey or Sanju Samson. Mayank Agarwal got starts in both matches but couldn’t get big scores, so Shubman Gill might replace him at the top of the order. Navdeep Saini could also make way for Shardul Thakur or T Natarajan.
As far as things for Australia go, David Warner will sit out with a groin injury. Pay Cummins has been rested as well. Matthew Wade or Cameron Green are expected to replace Warner in the side, whereas Sean Abbot is expected to take Cummins’ place.
Probable Playing XIs
Australia
Finch (c), Matthew Wade/Cam Green, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschange, Moises Henriques, Alex Carey (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Sean Abbott, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Adam Zampa
India
Shikhar Dhawan, Mayank Agarwal/Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli (c), Shreyas Iyer/Manish Pandey, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Navdeep Saini/Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal/Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah
Fantasy Tips
- The likes of Steven Smith, Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell are automatic picks considering the kind of form they have been in.
- Marnus Labuschagne has good potential too. He scored a fifty in the second ODI and thus can be a good differential captaincy option.
- Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya seem to be the only reliable Indian batting options.
- Josh Hazlewood, Adam Zampa and Mohammad Shami could be expected to be amongst he wickets once again.
Fantasy Team
KL Rahul
Virat Kohli
Aaron Finch
Steven Smith
Marnus Labuschagne
Glenn Maxwell
Ravindra Jadeja
Adam Zampa
Josh Hazlewood
Mohammad Shami
Mitchell Starc
