Chance for Team India to Salvage Some Pride in Sydney

By: Drcricket7 Staff

The 5th ODI against Australia is India’s last chance to salvage some pride, after losing their previous four matches by close margins, as this match is also crucial to regain confidence before the T20 series.

India’s top-order did everything that was right, but it was the middle-order batting and poor quality bowling that let the team down.

In the first two matches, India was beaten by Australia, while in the next two games the visitors had ample opportunity to upset the world champions in Melbourne and Canberra.

A lack of experience in the middle-order is being felt more acutely due to the absence of Ajinkya Rahane, who is out of the series with a hand injury.

With no Suresh Raina or Yuvraj Singh in the middle, it will be interesting to see how the Indian team management handles the situation.

On the bowling front, India may be tempted to try out the two-spinner formula and may just bring back Ravichandran Ashwin for the 5th ODI.

This was the bowling combination that didn’t work for India in the first two matches of the series in Perth and Brisbane.

However, the Sydney Cricket Ground, which offers a little assistance to the spinners, shall provide the Indians favourable conditions to resist total domination.

From Australia’s ability to snatch a victory from the jaws of defeat, it’s certainly a Himalayan task for MS Dhoni and his men to deny them 19 straight ODI wins.

But, as they say, nothing is impossible in cricket so don’t be surprised if India put together a better show on Saturday!