India vs Australia: 5 Changes India could make for the 1st ODI

India was blanked 2-0 in the recently concluded T20I series by Australia. The result was a bolt from the blue with many fancying India to continue their T20I domination over the Aussies.

However, the hosts do have a chance to settle scores with the visitors as the ODI series follows close on the heels of the T20I series. The first instalment of the fifty over assignment begins on Saturday at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.

The squad for the ODI series consists of minor changes with Mohammed Shami, Ambati Rayudu and Kedar Jadhav returning to the team. Meanwhile, Kuldeep Yadav comes back into the picture after having had a couple of games off.

Thus, there are a myriad of team combinations the Indians can ponder over for the match on Saturday. Through this article, we would chalk out five such changes that the hosts might be contemplating.

Here is a look at them:

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#5. Play Mohammed Shami

Shami bowled superbly in New Zealand and Australia

Arguably the most expected change that India might go through with is recalling Mohammed Shami. The pacer from Bengal performed admirably in Australia and New Zealand. However, his injury-prone nature meant that he needed to be rested for the T20I engagement.

Blessed with the ability to move the ball both ways, Shami proved to be a real handful on India’s trip Down Under. To supplement his new-ball exploits, he was adroit at the death as well and hit the yorkers with remarkable efficiency.

The pacer’s case for inclusion has also been aided by Umesh Yadav and Siddharth Kaul’s insipid displays during the T20Is. Both looked bereft of bowling ideas and let the team down when push came to shove.

Thus, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar not in the fray until the 3rd ODI, the Indians would be itching to bring back Shami to partner Jasprit Bumrah.

Hence, it is a tweak the team would make in all probability come Saturday.

#4. Ambati Rayudu in place of Rishabh Pant

Rayudu played a match-winning innings at Wellington recently

The Indian team has been flirting with the idea of playing Rishabh Pant in the middle order for a while now. Yet, the wicket-keeper hasn’t set the world ablaze whenever given the opportunity. Moreover, the youngster has looked fazed at the crease and has given the impression of a child trying a little too hard to impress his teacher.

Thus, one wouldn’t be surprised if Ambati Rayudu is given the nod for the 1st ODI. The middle-order batsman looked out of sorts initially in Australia and New Zealand. However, with more game time under his belt, he seemed to have rediscovered his sumptuous form of last year.

Additionally, Rayudu provides solidity to the middle order with his capability to arrest a slide placing him on a higher pedestal than Pant.

Though the latter will certainly get opportunities to prove his worth before the series ends (he could also don the gloves if MS Dhoni’s forearm injury is serious), one gets the feeling that the former would be preferred for the game at Hyderabad with India wanting to set the early pace.

Yet, with this Indian team, one never knows what rabbit they might pull out of their selection hat. But, it definitely is a change that one can expect rather than be shocked at.

#3. A return for Rohit Sharma

Rohit should reclaim his place at the top of the order

Rohit Sharma was omitted for the final T20I at Bengaluru as the hosts provided KL Rahul with another chance at the top of the order. Though the latter strengthened his credentials superbly, he could just find himself on the sidelines for the opening ODI.

Rohit and Shikhar Dhawan have formed a wonderful partnership at the top of the order and are near certainties to open the batting at the World Cup too. However, the Indian team would want to accord Dhawan as much match practice as possible.

At Bengaluru, the left-hander looked out of touch and with his career graph pointing towards either highly prolific or extremely lean patches, India would like him to get into the groove soon.

Thus, KL Rahul would most likely sit out to allow Rohit to return to the playing eleven. And while there are several uncertainties surrounding the team that could take the field, the inclusion of India’s vice-captain surely isn’t one of them.

#2. Bring back Kedar Jadhav

Jadhav lends balance to the Indian team

Kedar Jadhav was a vital part of the ODI series in New Zealand as India scripted a historic triumph. The batsman’s ability to get going from the outset coupled with his attribute to double up as a sixth bowler provided India with numerous options.

For the T20Is, India preferred to go in with five bowlers. The hosts were made to pay each time as they didn’t have a back-up bowler to fill in for the front-line bowlers who went the distance.

However, with Jadhav in the mix, the home side wouldn’t face such issues as the lad from Maharashtra can turn his arm over if required.

While Jadhav’s introduction into the eleven seems a mere formality, the question of who he might replace is slightly more complex. He could come in as a direct replacement for Dinesh Karthik or the Indians could take the other (and probably more naïve) route of playing him instead of Vijay Shankar.

In the latter case, the onus would be on Jadhav to complete his quota of ten overs which could prove to be an arduous task. However, that would allow the hosts to play an extra specialist batsman in the form of Rahul or Pant.

Yet, it represents an extraordinarily risky ploy and one hopes that India would not fiddle so drastically with their playing combination in the first ODI.

Thus, the hosts should, hopefully adopt the former scenario and make the switch between Karthik and Jadhav.

#1. Play Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep has been sensational in the last year and a half

The left-arm chinaman Kuldeep Yadav wasn’t a part of the team that took on Australia in the T20Is. And boy, didn’t they miss him.

In the 2nd T20I at Bengaluru, the Indian spinners were butchered all over the park with Yuzvendra Chahal and Krunal Pandya finishing wicket-less. Moreover, the hosts’ attack looked toothless in the absence of their most potent weapon.

Additionally, the pitch at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium has historically been conducive to spin. If one adds the tourists’ susceptibility to wrist-spin, one can conclude that it would not be the best choice to keep Kuldeep out of the eleven.

The inclusion of the left-arm spinner would also allow him and Chahal to rekindle their proficient partnership.

In the past few months, India’s bowling has acted as the difference maker more often than not and the hosts’ spinners have been pivotal to their success. Thus, when given the chance to play both the ‘spin twins’, they shouldn’t hesitate in playing the pair together.

After all, Kuldeep has spun many a web in his international career and India would hugely jeopardise their chances to go ahead in the series if they ignore the magician from Uttar Pradesh.