India vs Australia: 3 tactical changes India need to make for the 5th ODI

Australia pulled off a sensational heist at Mohali to level the series and set up a grandstand finish in New Delhi. The final instalment of the ODI series is scheduled to take place in the nation’s capital on Wednesday with India hoping to turn around their two-match losing streak.

For the game at Mohali, India rang the changes and brought in KL Rahul, Yuzvendra Chahal and Bhuvneshwar Kumar for Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Shami respectively.

Though none of them set the stage on fire with their displays, the inclusion of the trio made the Indian team look a lot more balanced. However, courtesy Australia’s victory in the 4th ODI, the hosts might yet be tempted to retreat to the winning formula of the first couple of ODIs. In addition, there were a few tactical aspects that went wrong for India at Mohali and how the home side corrects those could well end up defining the series.

Thus, through the course of this article, we would take a look at three changes (tactical and personnel, if any) India needs to make to clinch the decider.

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#3. Play Vijay Shankar at No.5

Shankar has excelled whenever given the chance

After the match at Ranchi, the team management took the bold call of resting MS Dhoni. The wicket-keeper is expected to play at least 14 games in the IPL and thus, a break before the congested fixture list was well-warranted.

However, with MS not in the mix, a gaping hole was created in the middle order. And that is where Vijay Shankar could come into the equation.

The all-rounder has impressed since being accorded the freedom to bat higher up the order. He was outstanding in New Zealand and looked primed to make a significant impact in the 2nd ODI at Nagpur too.

Shankar is a batsman cut out of the classical cloth. Blessed with the ability to effortlessly lift the ball over the in-field, India should explore the opportunity of allowing him to bat when five fielders are inside the circle. Thus, the No.5 spot vacated by Dhoni seems the ideal position for the all-rounder.

Moreover, at Mohali, Rishabh Pant attacked the Aussie bowling from the outset with his vast array of strokes coming to the fore. Hence, India could be better served using him as a lower-order dasher.

#2. Use Kedar Jadhav sparingly as a bowler

Jadhav's bowling has been found out in recent games

Kedar Jadhav has been a revelation on the international stage ever since he was asked to roll his arm over in a game against New Zealand a few years back. His brand of seemingly innocuous off-spinners has tied several batsmen in knots with none able to pinpoint why exactly he is so successful.

The said trait served him well in the first couple of ODIs as well as he bagged vital wickets at crucial junctures. However, the Australians finally seem to have found a fix to his bowling. Subsequently, they pulverised him at Ranchi and Mohali.

At the JSCA Stadium, he conceded a whopping 32 runs in two overs with Aaron Finch annihilating Jadhav. In the 4th ODI, he gave away 44 runs in five overs at an unacceptable economy rate of 8.8.

Over the past few months, the all-rounder has become an indispensable cog India's limited-overs setup. None of India’s other batsmen are capable of turning their arm over and thus, Jadhav held a considerable advantage over the others.

Yet, with each passing game, the opposition batsmen have worked him out and with a World Cup on the horizon, India would be better off shielding him from the firing line.

At best, Jadhav is a one-trick bowling pony. Hence, expecting a part-timer to pull another rabbit out of an already threadbare hat could just be a little too much to ask for.

#1. Virat Kohli has to bat at No.3, no matter what

Kohli needs to return to his usual batting position

India got off to a rollicking start at Mohali as their openers stitched together a 193 run stand. Rohit Sharma eventually perished after 31 overs with the platform set for a monumental assault. However, India sprung a surprise by sending in KL Rahul for Virat Kohli and the move backfired.

The former was scratchy in his 31 ball stint and contributed only 26 at a strike rate of 83.87. Moreover, his inability to get going from the off mounted pressure on Shikhar Dhawan.

Additionally, Kohli didn’t look comfortable coming into bat at No.4 leading many to question the thinking behind such a move.

The Indian skipper has carved a niche for himself batting at one-down with his ability to control games unparalleled. And while trying out different players before the World Cup isn’t the biggest crime in the world, India just shouldn’t fiddle with Kohli’s batting position.

The Indian captain is the undisputed best batsmen in the world and not using his astronomical powers to its full extent would be a mistake of historic proportions.

After all, one simply doesn’t ask Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo to play out of position to accommodate another individual.