The stage is set for India and Australia to come face-to-face in the tri-series on Sunday. This match is interesting for Team India in many ways, as after a long time, India skipper MS Dhoni will be leading the side in the ODI format without the burden of Test leadership.
He will be a lot freer from inside with an eye on the big mission – the World Cup . He is after all the best captain India has had in the history of the game, with highest batting average (57.72) as a captain ever in the ODIs. That is why his team is looking up to this giant to carry a billion hopes once again.
For India, this is a tournament which will decide the World Cup batting order. It will give the team management a deep look into its bowling department, and see who fits where. By the time the World Cup begins, this team will get a fair idea about its combinations.
Unlike any other tournament, where chopping and changing happens any time, the World Cup is one such event where the playing XI is not changed easily unless there is a huge loss of form of a player or an injury concern.
In the last edition of the World Cup, in-form batsman Suresh Raina had missed most matches because Yusuf Pathan, another middle-order batsman, had scored some big runs against South African in the ODIs. Raina had to wait and wait longer till Pathan was completely exposed.
In comparison, a few changes were made from the league matches itself. Also, India have seven batsmen in the current side and if the team plays five bowlers, one of the batsman would be warming the bench.
Coming back to Sunday’s match, the Indians know fully well that Australia are no pushovers. They are fresh after a win over England in the tri-series opener. For the record, India have won five matches in Melbourne and lost seven times to the hosts. But India ready to show the world why they are the world champions!
