India vs Australia, 5th ODI – India Predicted Playing XI

Team India couldn’t have asked for a better match scenario for their last One Day International ahead of the World Cup 2019 in England and Wales, starting May 30. The fifth ODI against Australia at the Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi will be a do-or-die one as the series is on the line. The side will surely face such situations at the quadrennial event and this game will be a test of their temperament.

Remember, India isn’t playing its best eleven for the last two games. It is important to give the players who were warming the bench an opportunity. Yet, it is essential to win the match as it has been a while since the team lost an ODI series at home and the pride is at stake. So, will the management press the panic button and bring some good players back in or will they continue with the same eleven?

Here is what could be the possible playing XI for India:

Openers (Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma)

The Indian openers’ timely return to form is a great positive for the team. Both of them will take the field in the ‘Blue’ for one last time before the World Cup. Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan were hitting the ball well in the fourth ODI at the PCA Stadium in Mohali.

They will hope to continue with the good form and make an impact yet again. It will be important for them to lay a good platform early on because the Delhi pitch isn’t as easy to bat on. If they manage to get the side off to a good start, the batsmen coming next can capitalise on the good start.

Middle Order (Virat Kohli (C), KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (wk))

The 30-year-old Virat Kohli might get back to his usual batting position while playing in Delhi. Playing at three gives him the time to settle in and build a big inning. Usually, the same isn’t possible batting at four and the Indian team would be looking up to their skipper for another substantial score.

KL Rahul, thus, will have to bat at four and has to switch into the T20 mode immediately if he comes during the last phase of the innings. Rishabh Pant came under severe scrutiny with his keeping in the last match. He has got a point to prove playing at his home ground in the upcoming game. He did well with the bat in the last game and will hope to continue the good work.

All Rounders (Kedar Jadhav, Vijay Shankar)

Kedar Jadhav, over time, has become more important a player with the ball than with the bat. But in the last two matches, he was taken to the cleaners on a good batting surface. The Delhi pitch could suit him much better. The experienced campaigner can always deliver with the willow whenever the need arises.

Vijay Shankar is slowly trying to cement his spot in the Indian team. He took up the role of a finisher in the last game and scored 26 off just 15 balls helping India go past 350. This wouldn’t have been possible had Shankar not smashed those big shots. He still isn’t someone who can offer the captain 10 overs in a game but is definitely coming off age.

Bowlers (Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah)

None of the Indian bowlers had a notable outing while playing in Mohali. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah were hit for a lot of runs. Death bowling is an issue they will have to work upon while playing in unfavourable conditions. Their performance is usually top-notch when the ball is new and shiny.

Even the spin twins failed to create an impact in the last match for India. There are several talks about them being effective only when MS Dhoni is behind the stumps. They’ve got a point to prove and they couldn’t have asked for a better pitch than the one at Dehli to do the same.

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