India vs Australia: 3 Players who might be axed from ODIs after the series
These players might not fit in the team's playing XI going ahead.
This is a World Cup year and the T20 World Cup will take place in Australia. There is a massive build-up and context given to T20Is. Hence, ODI cricket’s intensity was dropping with the focus on the other two formats. However, India and Australia proved the opposite and played out a riveting three-match ODI series and both teams fought really hard before India emerged as the winners.
After getting thrashed in the first game in Mumbai, India came storming back with all-round performances in both games which were played in Rajkot and Bengaluru respectively. The ‘Men in Blue’ fly to New Zealand next where they start off the tour with a five-match T20Is. The squad for the shortest format has been announced and the ODI squad is expected to be announced soon as well. Meanwhile, Australia have a month’s break before they go to South Africa for a limited-overs tour.
While there were some excellent performances in the ODI series, there were a few who disappointed quite a bit. Hence, here we look at three might who might face the axe post this India-Australia ODI series.
1. Kedar Jadhav
The case of Kedar Jadhav has been very interesting. The Maharashtra cricketer was one of India’s first-choice 50-over players in the lead-up to the World Cup. Not only batting at 6 and donning the finisher’s role, he had the ability to chip in with a few useful overs and also provide important breakthroughs.
In the World Cup, he fell off the radar after the first seven games. After the loss against England, Jadhav was dropped from the team. He had mustered 80 runs from five innings and had three not outs. But his strike-rate was just about 80.81 and he wasn’t effective with the ball either. However, he returned to the XI after the World Cup and played against the West Indies – both away and at home.
Jadhav was expected to make it to the XI against Australia but KL Rahul’s excellent form and Virat Kohli’s eagerness to not leave the Karnataka batsman out led to Jadhav getting dropped from the team. Even when Rishabh Pant was injured, it was Manish Pandey who was included in the XI.
Hence, the Maharashtra lad seems to have dropped in the pecking order due to his inconsistent form. Moreover, with a couple of in-form batsmen waiting in the wings, Jadhav could well be axed from the team and may not be on the flight to New Zealand.
2. Shivam Dube
Hardik Pandya’s injury has shaken up the balance of the Indian team. India’s search for another all-rounder who can bat and also give in as many overs led to an opportunity for Shivam Dube who has been good in domestic cricket. However, Dube isn’t someone who can give you 10 overs in an ODI game. He is more of a batting all-rounder who can bat at 6 or 7 and chip in with a few overs.
The Mumbai-born all-rounder has played a lot more T20Is than ODI cricket. In fact, he’s just played one ODI where he batted at No. 8 after Ravindra Jadeja and scored a six-ball nine. He bowled 7.5 overs and leaked 68 runs as well. In T20Is, Dube got a chance to bat at No. 3 in one game and he made full use of the opportunity as he stroked a half-century. But he hasn’t been very impactful with the ball. The seam-bowling all-rounder took 3/30 in a game against Bangladesh but that was the only game he took wickets in T20Is.
Thus, Dube hasn’t really made use of the opportunities he’s got, especially with the ball. Moreover, with Hardik Pandya nearing full fitness, it could well mean that Dube will have to sit out from the ODI team.
3. Ashton Turner
When Ashton Turner made it to the Australian ODI squad, it was rather surprising. The Western Australian batsman hadn’t had the best of domestic seasons. Even in the T20Is he played, he didn’t make a huge impact as he played three innings and remained unbeaten in all three making 1, 22 and 8.
His form in the Marsh Cup (domestic 50-over competition) or the Big Bash League (BBL) wasn’t too great either. In fact, he scored 135 runs in five innings in the Marsh Cup and 83 runs at a strike-rate of 113.69 in the BBL. Hence, it was that 84 not out off 43 balls which he scored last year against India in Mohali that influenced the selectors.
However, the tour didn’t go too well for Turner. He could accumulate a mere 17 runs from two innings and constituted to Australia’s middle-order woes. Thus, with Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis and Mitchell Marsh doing well in the BBL, Turner might face the axe.
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