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ToggleUnder Virat Kohli, the India National Cricket Team won the bilateral ODI series for the first time on Australian soil. On Friday, at the iconic MCG, MS Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav ensured India won the series-deciding clash. However, there have been many positives for India from the Australia ODIs. Looking at the 2019 World Cup, which begins on May 30th in England and Wales; India will be happy to have such a result under their belt.
Here we will look at the three biggest positives for India post-ODI series against Australia –
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Mohammed Shami – the third bowler for India
In the absence of ace pacer, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami filled the filler’s role very nicely. Yes, he was not among the wickets, but Shami didn’t bowl many loose deliveries; also built pressure on the batsmen throughout his spell. In the three games against Australia, Shami leaked 151 runs and picked up five wickets. Though his economy crossed five (5.09), his experience of bowling with the new and old ball was visible.
Furthermore, Virat Kohli tried Khaleel Ahmed and Mohammed Siraj in the first two games, respectively. Both the fast bowlers not only leaked runs at an alarming rate but went wicketless as well; mounting worries on the captain and the management for the third slot seamer for the 2019 World Cup.
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Dinesh, Kedar solving lower-middle order vows
India’s middle-order or lower middle-order, to be precise, has been a worry nut for a long time now. With the management and the captain trying more than half a dozen players to sort the issue in over three years now; the likes of Dinesh Karthik and Kedar Jadhav have topped the list.
The right-handed batsmen are no young guns in cricket. They have been around the domestic circuit for over a decade now, and have been part of the ODI setup since 2017 at least. During the ODI series, having the pair at the crease gave Indian fans confidence of the team doing well in crunch situations; primarily looking at the 2019 World Cup.
Though Karthik scored a mere 37 runs across two games, Jadhav had hit 61 in his single outing. However, what has been impressive is their conduct on the field. Coming in at crucial junctures of the game, and helping the side to win it eventually, has to be an achievement. Meanwhile, both will come handy for India at the mega event in England.
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MS Dhoni roars back to form with three fifties
There’s nothing more beautiful than watching MS Dhoni hitting the purple patch, and doing what he does the best; helping India win matches. In 2018, the veteran batsman didn’t hit a single fifty-plus total in an inning. Come 2019 MS Dhoni has three half-centuries in as many games.
In the first ODI at the SCG, Dhoni hit 51. Whereas, in the next two games in Adelaide and Melbourne, respectively; the wicketkeeper-batsman scored 55* and 87*. The best part of such scores is that India had won the games with six and seven wickets, respectively.
However, if Dhoni, at the fag end of his career can contribute with both bat and gloves behind the wicket; Virat and the India National Cricket Team should fancy their chance heading into the 2019 World Cup.