India eyes perfect finish

The three-match series is level at 1-1 after Australia won the first ODI in Sydney by 34 runs and India won the second in Adelaide by six wickets.

The Men in Blue have never won a bilateral ODI contest on Australian soil, and its only two series’ wins in this format have come in 1985 (World Championship of Cricket) and 2008 (CB Series).

In fact, this is only the second bilateral ODI series India has played in Australia, losing 4-1 in 2016 when it toured here last. Also, by winning this third ODI in Melbourne, India will finish the current 2018-19 tour without having lost a series here. It has previously drawn the T20I series 1-1, and then went on to record a historic first-ever Test series win here by a 2-1 margin.

While India will take winning momentum into this third ODI, its only worry at the moment is the fifth bowling option.

So far in the series, senior pacers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami have been impressive, while the two left-arm spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja have provided control and breakthroughs in the middle overs. In the absence of Hardik Pandya, India has used a full-time seamer as their fifth bowling option both at the Sydney Cricket Ground and the Adelaide Oval. Khaleel Ahmed (0-55) and Mohammed Siraj (0-76) though failed to impress in their singular outings.

It becomes a particularly crucial aspect considering that India will go in with the same batting line-up as in the first two matches. With Virat Kohli not keen on bowling Ambati Rayudu again in the series, it needs to get its five-bowler attack right on the money. Seam bowling all-rounder Vijay Shankar and leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal are in contention and both had a rigorous workout during the optional training session on Thursday at the MCG.

Shankar provides the third seam bowling option, and as an extra batsman, elongates the batting line-up. However, the argument against Shankar is whether the Indian team management can trust him enough to deliver 10 overs on ODI debut. Siraj struggled to do so and Kohli was left wondering how he would bowl him for a last three-over spell. This is where Chahal might prove to be a more reliable option, even if India has to play two pacers and three spinners.

The bigger boundaries at the MCG, and Chahal’s ability to bowl economical and attacking spells as well as use the new ball within the first 10 overs, might be a factor in his favour. If Kohli does pick Shankar for his ODI debut, it would disturb the set batting line-up and make space for Kedar Jadhav. The fifth bowler’s 10 overs can then be divided between Jadhav and Shankar. This would mean one of Ambati Rayudu or Dinesh Karthik will be left out.

Karthik was handy in finishing the second ODI, while Rayudu has been rusty but seen as India’s favoured number four option, making this a tough decision for the Indian captain.

Australia will be worried about lack of runs from its opening duo, Finch and Alex Carey, with its middle-order having to do the bull work in the last two matches. Australia has won nine out of the 14 ODIs played against India at the MCG, and this should inspire it on Friday as it is still on the cusp of winning its first ODI series since January 2017.