Team India started their ODI series against Australia on the wrong foot with a 34-run loss at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in the first ODI. Rohit Sharma played a valiant knock of 133 runs in the chase of 289 runs, but eventually, the start of 4/3 cost India the match despite his heroics.
The second match is scheduled to be played on Jan 15 in the Adelaide Oval and is expected to be another cracker of a match given India’s requirement to win the match to equalize the series and Australia trying to win a series against India on what has been quite disappointing outcomes for the home side.
With India requiring to win the match, Team COC presents to you the predicted Team India playing XI for the second ODI.
Most of the top order is expected to remain the same, despite India losing three wickets for four runs in under four overs in the first ODI. Shikhar Dhawan and Ambati Rayudu are expected to keep their places at the top and no.4 respectively, despite scoring ducks.
Rohit Sharma, who scored a brilliant century, his 22nd in ODIs, will have to take the onus of scoring runs at the top once again. Virat Kohli, the Indian skipper, had an off day, as he was caught off a very good shot and he would like to retribute with a scintillating knock at the Adelaide Oval.
MS Dhoni, whose 96-ball 51, helped India rebuild the innings after being 4/3, came under scrutiny for his slow approach. However, though his innings helped India come back into the game, it ultimately cost India the match also. He will hope to put that behind him and concentrate on helping India draw level in the series with a win at Adelaide.
The only change possible in the playing XI can be Kedar Jadhav replacing Dinesh Karthik at no.6 spot. His inclusion will give India another spin bowling option, as Kohli had to turn to Ambati Rayudu for some support. Indian fast bowlers went for runs in the death overs and the team seemed a spinner short.
Jadhav’s inclusion solves that problem, as his lower arm spinners help the Indian team’s balance and give India an attacking lower order hitting batsman.
The remaining of the bowling attack is expected to remain the same with Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav heading the spin attack. Kuldeep picked two wickets in the first ODI, while Jadeja chipped in with one. They looked wonderfully in control in middle overs as they gave away runs with the economy of 5.10 only in their 20 overs.
Mohammad Shami bowled exceedingly well, giving away 46 runs in his 10 overs and was unlucky not to pick any wicket. However, both Khaleel and Bhuvneshwar went for economies of over 6.50 and though Bhuvneshwar picked two wickets, he was expensive during the last few overs.
Khaleel is still in his learning phase and may be required to work on his line and length since he presents India with a different angle of bowling, being left-handed.
COC Predicted Team India playing XI for the second ODI:
Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli (C), Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni (WK), Kedar Jadhav, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammad Shami, Khaleel Ahmed
