Captain Virat Kohli will get back at his original No.3 position after the initial decision to bat at two-down backfired in the first ODI. The mighty Aussies registered a thrilling 10 wickets victory in the first ODI at Wankhede in Mumbai.
India’s batting line-up came crashing by after facing the harsh deliveries bowled by the Kangaroos. In the first ODI, Virat Kohli let KL Rahul bat at No.3 while he stepped out at No.4. But it seems like team India’s all-openers-on-board strategy failed miserably. The Men in Blue struggled to put up a decent target on the scoreboard for the Aussies to chase.
With only Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul making some noticeable contribution to India’s 255 all out score, others batsmen grappled. This total was easily chased down by Aaron Finch and David Warner. They both scored an unbeaten partnership of 258 runs and registered a 10 wicket victory over the Indians.
If skipper Virat Kohli gets back to his No.3 position, the middle-order will become more stable. The No.3 position will also enable the 31-year old to stay on the crease for a longer time and play a remarkable knock.
With Rishabh Pant being diagnosed with a concussion, Manish Pandey will be handed out an opportunity to showcase his worth in the second ODI against Australia at Rajkot. Pant’s absence will also force KL Rahul to take his position behind the stumps.
It is a possibility that team India will make some major changes in their squad before entering the field to take on the Aussies. As the Australians will be in a better position owing to their lead of 1-0 in the three-match series, it will be a challenge for the Indian team to bounce back.