Australia will be looking to create history by defeating India in a bilateral series in their own backyard for the first time in four years. The last time the Aussies managed to do so was in 2019, when they won the five-match ODI series 3-2 after losing the first two games. Led by Steve Smith, the team will be determined to finish the tour on a high note after their impressive performance in the second ODI in Visakhapatnam. With the Indian team being bundled out for just 117 runs in 26 overs, the visitors managed to chase the target down in just 11 overs, dominating the match with a resounding 10-wicket victory. It’s all up for grabs on Wednesday in Chennai as both teams will fight it out to claim the series decider.
The Indian cricket team’s batting lineup is facing a tough challenge, as their top-order has been experiencing a series of collapses lately. Although they were rescued from the embarrassment of defeat in Mumbai by the impressive performances of KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja, there is no hiding the fact that the top four have not been able to withstand the swing bowling of Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc. With nine wickets under his belt in two games, including an outstanding five-for in Vizag, India might need to re-evaluate their combination and make some changes before the series decider. All in all, the Indian team will be hoping to show a more solid batting performance, as they aim to overcome the Australian challenge and close the series with a win.
India’s recent ODI series loss against Australia for the second time in a World Cup year is not a good omen for the Men in Blue. Despite being ahead on both occasions, they could not capitalize on their lead and lost the series. This underlines the amount of work that skipper Rohit Sharma and coach Rahul Dravid need to do to ensure that the team is ready to take on the challenges of the upcoming World Cup tournament on home soil. However, on the other hand, Australia will be thrilled to regain the top spot in the ODI rankings and take home the trophy as a consolation prize after losing out on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy earlier on this trip.
