Mitchell Starc ran through the Indian top-order in the first two ODIs.
Left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc ran through the Indian batting line-up, returning with a five-wicket haul (5/53) to bundle out the hosts for a paltry 117 in 26 overs.
In reply, Australia rode on swashbuckling knocks from Mitchell Marsh (66* off 36) and Travis Head (51* off 30) to overhaul the target in just 11 overs.
Speaking to Cricbuzz, former India pacer Zaheer Khan was asked if including Umran Malik in the playing XI can strengthen the Indian bowling. In reply, he refused for such a change to be made, citing that batters were at a larger fault than bowlers in both games.
Notably, India won the first ODI by five wickets in Mumbai but they were struggling at 83/5 while chasing the target of 189.
"You look at the first match score, you got the team all-out for 188. Today you didn't have a chance of making any impact because your batters didn't really step up and got you to that platform.
"I think it's all about providing that kind of platform. I won't go too much in that part what bowlers have done wrong. They've played their part in the first match," Zaheer said.
Zaheer Khan further stated that the Indian top-order has failed to give the team a platform to build with the bat in both matches.
"The last two games that has happened you clearly know where the issue is. The issue is first 10 overs, with the bat in hand what are you doing with it? You are not really setting the platform for your middle-order.”
Starc is the leading wicket-taker in the series, having already picked 8 scalps. The lanky fast bowler could be a huge threat to the Indian batters in the decider at Chepauk on Wednesday (March 22).
"How Mitchell Starc has done that with new ball, which is providing platform to the next bowlers to come and continue with that pressure. So similarly when you're losing wickets, the pressure is already formed on the next batter to come and deal with the best bowler.
"How can you negate that, how can you avoid that kind of a situation is going to be the challenge. That's why all answers in the series is lying with the batters. And they need to regroup, they need to come with solutions, they need to plan and if they are able to provide with the platform then your bowlers will step up," said Zaheer.