Ranchi, Oct 22:
Undefeated so far in his home ground of Ranchi, Team India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni would like to keep his record intact and ensure that Men in Blue win in the 4th match of the ODI series to draw level the seven match series 2-2.
Dhoni’s men had defeated England by 7 wickets in the first ODI held on January 19 at this venue, while in the Champions League T20 his franchise Chennai Super Kings had remain undefeated in all the three Pool B matches in which he led his side.
Batting from both sides has been the highlight in so far in the first three matches of the series with teams scoring beyond 300 runs in their innings.
Visitors Australia led by George Bailey in absence of regular captain Michael Clarke has demonstrated sublime batting form and has been equally supported by Philip Huges and Aaron Finch at the top. With the likes of Shane Watson and Adam Voges accompanying Bailey the Australian batting outfit has been on a roll in the series.
All rounder Glen Maxwell will once again prove to be dangerous in the death overs.
It is unlikely that the Kangaroos will change their pace attack led by Mitchell Johnson despite receiving a hammering by the Indian Batsman. Johnson who had a sucessful outing in the IPL and CLT20 with the Mumbai Indians has troubled the famed Indian batting line up with his pace and bounce. He took 4/46 in the previous macth at Mohali.
With Clint Mckay, and Man of the Match in the previous match James Faulkner who had his bat do the talking in the previous match and Shane Watson will again test Dhoni and company with their speed and bounce.
On the other hand Team India has not made changes in the squad for the remaining four matches of the series, however the world’s Number One ODI team will like to address its bowling woos espically bowling in the death overs.
After defeat in Mohali, Dhoni had said that bowling in death overs is an area of concern for us and it is deterioating day by day.’The bowlers should bowl as per their capabilittes and not concede so many runs,’ he said.
It remains to be seen whether Ishant Sharma who was guilty of giving away 30 runs in an over which ultimately led to India losing the match at Mohali despite having made 303 will be reatined in the playing 11 for the day and night encounter.In the 3 matches the pacer from Delhi has conceded 189 runs.
Jadeja with his left arm spin was quite effective in the previous match, however R Ashwin has been bowling too many short balls and is being punished by the Australian batsman from the word go.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Vinay Kumar have been also hammered by the visitors.
It will be interesting to see it the captain and the team management decide to give Jaidev Unadkat or Shami Ahmed a chance in this match.
Openers Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma went out cheaply in the last encounter, they would be eager to make amends and so would Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh who have failed to impress with their batting.
Virat Kohli continues to be in a sublime form, he has already notched up two half centuries and a century in the 3 match series. Dhoni too once again proved why he is considered one of the most dangerous and best finishers in the shortest version of the game as he scored 139 to help his side cross 300.
Dhoni will be eagar to see to it that his homes fan do not face dissapointment in the second ODI being held in 2013 at the Jharkhand State Cricket Association International Cricket Stadium here.
(UNI)
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