India approach the series finale against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday, needing redemption after back-to-back defeats in Perth and Adelaide sealed the three-match series. Head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill They are expected to make key tactical adjustments to restore confidence and momentum ahead of the upcoming T20I leg.
Kuldeep Yadav is likely to replace Washington Sundar in the final ODI
The most important change is probably replacement Washington Sundar of Kuldeep Yadavwhose omission from the first two games confused many former players. Kuldeep has been India’s leading limited-overs spinner since he regained his rhythm earlier this year, but he is yet to deliver in this series.
Its stunning Asia Cup 2025 campaign in which he took 17 wickets in seven matches against a stingy economy underlined his form, while his total tally of 181 ODI wickets at an average of less than 27 reflects his consistency. Experts like Irfan Pathan And Partiv Patel have argued that India’s preference for an extra batting option over Kuldeep has weakened their ability to take wickets in the middle overs. They insist his variations and left-arm spin could challenge Australia’s right-heavy batting lineup more effectively than Sundar’s off-spin.
Sundar’s figures in this series further support this view. He bowled just two overs in Perth taking a solitary wicket and although he improved slightly in Adelaide with two for 37, his batting returns were minimal. His overall ODI record against Australia remains modest with eight wickets in nine matches.
India’s choice to combine their lower order with all-rounders like Sundar, Axar PatelAnd Nitish Kumar Reddy has reduced the firepower of the bowling, especially during phases when Australia’s young middle order dominated. Matthew Short And Cooper Connolly have repeatedly benefited when Indian spinners failed to break partnerships, exposing India’s lack of control over crucial overs. So Kuldeep’s inclusion becomes a strategic necessity rather than an experimental move.
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Failed at bats increase pressure on leadership
While the depth of the bowling continues to come under scrutiny, India’s batting vulnerabilities have equally contributed to their downfall. Virat KohliIndia’s rare slump, which included consecutive ducks for the first time in his ODI career, has damaged India’s stability. Both dismissals for bowlers with a new ball Mitchell Starc And Xavier Bartlett highlighted his struggles with early movement.
Gill’s form has also dipped, with scores of fifteen and nine leaving India in search of leadership at the top. Rohit Sharma‘s composed 73 in Adelaide offered a brief respite, showing a glimpse of his old rhythm after rigorous pre-tour fitness work. Shreyas Iyer‘s flowing 61 reinforced his growing reliability at number four, while Patel’s 44-run knock added depth to the lower order. KL Rahul And Suryakumar Yadavhowever, must convert starts into impactful innings to ensure India post defendable totals on a batting-friendly SCG surface.
The bowling attack may also witness reshuffling. Harshit Rana‘s expensive getaway in Adelaide may open the door to Prasidh Krishna whose height and seam movement suit Sydney conditions. Mohammed Siraj And Arshdeep Singh are likely to retain their place after impressive spells with the new ball, with Patel continuing as the second spinner. With India determined to avoid a whitewash and regain pride, the third ODI promises to test their adaptability ahead of an intense T20I series starting next week.
India’s likely XI for the third and final ODI
Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (c), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wk), Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj.
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