India vs Australia 2017, 4th ODI: 5 reasons why India were humbled in Bengaluru

#3 Not sending MS Dhoni earlier

Dhoni was needlessly saved for No.7

Sending Hardik Pandya and Kedar Jadhav at No.4 and 5 respectively made sense, but when the required run-rate approached 9 during the final 12-13 overs, the obvious choice for No.6 was MS Dhoni.

Dhoni’s ability to absorb pressure has always been a huge asset to India and he could have easily taken the match away from Australia had he been sent in after the dismissal of Hardik Pandya. Pandey did score a brisk 33 from 25 deliveries but had Dhoni been sent instead, he could have scored quicker, not only in fours and sixes but with quick singles and twos, rotating the strike with his quick running between the wickets.

This decision played a huge role in determining the outcome of the match.