Australia vs India ODI series: A quick preview

MS Dhoni in the spotlight

This could be a make-or-break series for MS Dhoni

Even his biggest supporters are worried that Mahendra Singh Dhoni is losing his touch. The batsmen, who some years ago was the undisputed king of ODI batting, has become a pale shadow of himself and even batting higher up the order hasn’t helped.

Most people also feel that he should be in the team for the World Cup due to the experience he provides. However, one has to go a long way back to remember him playing a match-winning innings. If he has three more failures in this series, tough questions would be asked as to whether he is contributing enough to the team. The supposed assistance he gives to Kohli in his strategies may not be enough to keep him in the side. This series could decide the fate of MSD’s future.

Opportunity for Jadeja and Siraj

Can Mohammed Siraj establish himself in the Indian ODI team?

Lastly, this series provides a golden opportunity to Mohammed Siraj and Ravindra Jadeja. The former has been in good form in first-class cricket and needs to make a mark in the absence of Bumrah to keep his spot in the squad.

Jadeja, on the other hand, is in the unusual position of being the third spinner in the group. His steady and consistent style of bowling doesn’t generate the kind of excitement that the mysteries of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal do. Only if the two incumbents lose their form will he get an opportunity.