It has now been four long years since India last defeated Australia in Australia in any format. India have suffered a 0-4 loss already in the ongoing One-Day International (ODI) series with the final match to be played at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). India will need to recover from the mental scars of the fourth ODI at Canberra. Needing 72 to win from 75 balls with two centurions at crease and nine wickets in hand, India suffered a shock collapse and lost spectacularly. If this bit was not bad enough, what was worse for an Indian fan are the memories of these two sides’ previous encounter at SCG. Australia comfortably ended India’s World Cup reign when they downed them in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 semi-final here. Live Cricket Scorecard: India vs Australia 2015-16, 5th ODI at Sydney
Despite the score-line, the series has not been completely one sided when the teams have contested on the greens. The Indian batting has dominated; Rohit Sharma has scored two alluring hundreds and a 41, while Virat Kohli has done even better with two hundreds, a 91 and 59. Shikhar Dhawan’s return to form has been a plus too. India have failed to collectively perform as an unit but there have been individual battles which have been quite interesting to watch. READ: Hopeless bowling not the only reason for India’s defeat
The series is lost for India and as a cricketing giant they will look forward to salvage some pride while the win-hungry world champions Australia will look to enforce a whitewash as they suffered a similar fate in India during the Test series in 2013. Ahead of the Sydney clash, let us look at the possible key battles. READ: India vs Australia 2015-16, 5th ODI at Sydney: Likely XI for the visitors
Rohit Sharma vs Kane Richardson: The young Australian pacer has now dismissed the in-form Rohit twice in a row. Both times Rohit gave it away rather than Richardson getting him out. At Canberra the batsman got out gloving a rank bad delivery way outside leg-stump to the wicketkeeper. That Aside, Rohit has been quite severe on Richardson and attacked him from the word go. Richardson, the Man-of-the-Match in the last game, will want to dismiss the dangerous Rohit early, while the latter will not hesitate to go after the bowler. It surely will be an interesting battle. READ: India vs Australia 2015-16, 5th ODI: Golden chance for Sran, Rishi , Gurkeerat, Pandey to prove themselves
Ravindra Jadeja vs Steven Smith: The kind of form that Smith is in, he looks unconquerable. The only Indian bowler who has looked to cause some discomfort to him is Jadeja. The left-arm spinner dismissed him at MCG with good turn and bounce. While the Australian captain will look to ride on his good form, India will hope that Jadeja can apply brakes to it. READ: India must look to the past in order to secure their future after shocking loss to Australia in 4th ODI at Canberra
Virat Kohli vs James Faulkner: At MCG Kohli told Faulkner, “I have smashed you enough in my life.” This was not far from the truth. The Australian pacer has been at the receiving end of quite a few Kohli boundaries. Kohli has not only been severe on him in this series but even during the 2013 series in India. Faulkner’s banter with Kohli — which has been largely in good humour — has been one of the talking points in this series. Kohli has registered scores of 91, 59, 117 and 106, at a strike-rate of 100. The Indian vice-captain has surely dominated, but Faulkner has ended up on the winning side four times, which is what matters in the end. READ: India’s shocking losses: 6 times defeat was grabbed from the jaws of victory
David Warner vs Ishant Sharma: Though they are teammates at Sunrisers Hyderabad, when Warner and Ishant don the national colours all the camaraderie is forgotten. The duo have enjoyed some interesting duels in the past and it is set to continue at SCG. Warner, who just missed out on a hundred at Canberra, will look to make amends and India’s most experienced bowler Ishant is a hurdle that he will look to cross. On the other hand, Ishant — who has picked up seven wickets in the series — knows the importance of the Australian maverick’s wicket. He will look to dismiss his SRH skipper as early as possible lest he run away with the game.
Shikhar Dhawan vs John Hastings: Not a lot of people might have noticed his rise, but Hastings is the joint highest wicket-taker in this series. He is tied at the top spot with Ishant and has picked seven wickets. He has bowled at difficult junctures and been the most impressive bowler in this series. Dhawan, on the other hand, found form with 68 at MCG and followed that up with 126 in the last game at Canberra but both the times it was Hastings who dismissed him. Dhawan is a match-winner and will look to cross the Hastings line this time in an attempt to see India home.
(Suvajit Mustafi consumes cricket for lunch, fiction for dinner and munches numerous other snacks throughout the day. Yes, a jack of several trades, all Suvajit dreamt of was being India’s World Cup winning skipper but ended up being a sports writer, author, screenwriter, director, copywriter, graphic designer, sports marketer, strategist, entrepreneur, philosopher and traveller. Donning so many hats, it’s cricket which gives him the ultimate high and where he finds solace. He can be followed at @RibsGully and rivu7)
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