Australia vs India 2018/19: Predicting India's team combination for the third ODI

After winning their maiden Test series in Australia, the Indian cricket team suffered a setback in the three-match ODI series, when they lost the opening match at Sydney by 34 runs.

However, the men in blue, fought back to win the second ODI at Adelaide by six wickets on the back of a superb century by skipper Virat Kohli and crucial cameos by MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma and Dinesh Kartik to level the series 1-1.

Now with the series level at 1-1, Kohli and his men will look forward to win their first limited over series Down Under since 2008 when they take on the hosts in the third and final ODI at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

With series on the line, it looks very unlikely that Indian team would change its winning combination from its previous game at Adelaide.

But, still let us have a look at India's predicted playing XI for the crucial third ODI against Australia at Melbourne.

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#1 Openers

Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan

Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan are key to India's success in World Cup 2019.

The Indian vice-captain, Rohit Sharma began 2019 with a bang, scoring a superb century in the first ODI at Sydney. Rohit, also scored a handy 43 runs at Adelaide to lay the foundation for India's successful run chase in the second match of the series.

With 176 runs from two matches, Rohit Sharma is currently India's leading run scorer in the series and hence will look forward to continuing his good run with the bat in the third ODI at Melbourne.

On the other hand, Rohit's partner in crime Shikhar Dhawan has so far had a poor run in the three-match ODI series, as Dhawan has been dismissed for 0 and 32 in the starting two matches respectively.

Hence, Dhawan will look to get some runs under his belt in the third ODI, before the commencement of crucial limited overs series in New Zealand.

#2 Middle order

Virat Kohli, Ambati Rayudu and Dinesh Kartik

Ambati Rayudu's struggles have once again opened up India's problem at crucial No. 4 batting position.

After being dismissed cheaply in the first match of the series, Indian skipper Virat Kohli bounced back with a superb 103 in the second match at Adelaide, which enabled India to level the three-match ODI series at 1-1. Therefore, Kohli will look to continue tormenting the Aussie bowlers with another big knock in the third ODI at Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Before the beginning of the limited over series in Australia, the 33-year-old Ambati Rayudu was almost confirmed to be India's No. 4 batter at World Cup 2019 in England. But after a poor performance at both Sydney and Adelaide, Rayudu's spot hangs in balance.

However, considering that Indian management has backed Rayudu from past few months to be India's No. 4, it is safe to assume that Rayudu will be part of India's playing XI for the third ODI and will continue batting at the No. 4 position.

In the opening ODI at Sydney, the Indian management took a strange decision of selecting Dinesh Kartik ahead off all-rounder Kedar Jadhav in the playing XI which shocked many. However, Kartik justified his selection by playing a brilliant cameo of 25 runs from 14 balls in the second ODI to help India chase down the target of 299.

With his 25-run-knock at Adelaide, Dinesh Kartik is guaranteed to be part of Indian playing XI for the third ODI at Melbourne.

#3 Wicketkeeper, All-rounder and Spinner

MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav

MS Dhoni has looked good with the bat in the 3 match ODI series so far.

The biggest positive to emerge for Indian team from these three match one-day series in Australia so far, has been the return to form of MS Dhoni.

Considered by many as one-off India's biggest match winners in limited overs format, MS Dhoni had a poor run with the bat at the international arena in 2018 as he could score just 275 runs from 20 matches at a very poor average of 25.

However, Dhoni has managed to put behind the disappointment of 2018 by scoring two half centuries in his starting two matches of 2019. Therefore, Dhoni will look to continue his good form with the bat in the 3rd ODI at Melbourne.

Hardik Pandya's suspension by BCCI, means that left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja will continue playing the role of all-rounder for Indian team in the third ODI at Melbourne and also for the upcoming limited overs series in New Zealand. Jadeja in fact has been the most economical bowler in the series so far, having conceded runs at a miserly economy rate of 4.35.

After a poor bowling performance in the second ODI where he conceded 66 runs from his 10 overs, left-arm Chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav will look to bounce back and bamboozle the Aussie batsmen with his variations when India take on Australia in the third and the final ODI at Melbourne.

#4 Pacers

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj

Mohammed Shami has almost guaranteed his place as the 3rd pacer for World Cup 2019.

In the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has led the Indian pace attack brilliantly in the series so far and is currently the leading wicket taker in the series with 6 wickets from two matches.

Back in Indian one-day setup after a superb performance in the recently concluded test series Down Under, Mohammed Shami has done reasonably well with the ball so far in two ODI matches by picking up 3 wickets at a good economy rate of 5.2. Shami's good bowling performance at Sydney and Adelaide, has also improved Shami's chances of making it to the Indian squad for World Cup 2019 in England as the third fast bowler.

One of the key areas which has troubled the Indian team in these series has been the runs leaked by the third pacer, as both Khaleel Ahmed and Mohammed Siraj have gone for plenty in the two matches so far.

With Indian team least likely to go with 3 front line spinners in an ODI match especially at overseas conditions, so it is safe to assume that either of Khaleel or Siraj will be part of the Indian playing XI at Melbourne Cricket Ground, with Siraj being the most likely one to make the cut into the playing XI.