Australia Refuse to Relent But Will Rain Come to India’s Rescue?

Injury concerns for both teams as India look to avoid a 5-0 whitewash in Sydney on Saturday.

Can Dhoni’s India avoid a 5-0 whitewash in Sydney? (Photo: Reuters)

Battered, bruised and humiliated after four successive defeats at the hands of Steve Smith’s Australian side, India will make a last-gasp effort to avoid the embarrassment of a whitewash as they take the field for the final fixture on Saturday in Sydney.

In the first three outings India failed to defend back-to-back 300-plus totals but the disappointment was compounded when, in Canberra, Dhoni’s batting order had a monumental collapse and lost 8 wickets for 46 runs to go 4-0 down in the series.

Australia beat India by 25 runs in Canberra. (Photo: AP)

Sydney Rains

While the visitors are searching for answers after the poor show, the hosts took the day off today after travelling here via road, their dressing room relaxed for this 50-over finale.

The Indians could not have a practice session today because of wet conditions and there is a possibility of weather playing spoilsport with the forecast of more showers tomorrow.

Glenn Maxwell celebrates a century during the ODI series against India (Photo: Reuters)

Aus Team Changes

Australia’s only concern in the fitness department is regarding Glenn Maxwell, who walked off the field in Canberra after taking a blow to his right knee. A Cricket Australia release later said he would be assessing his condition before Saturday. With Nathan Lyon covering the spin angle now, Scott Boland could come in as an extra pace option, or even Shaun Marsh, should they feel the need to provide more batting cover, in case Maxwell doesn’t play at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Dhoni’s choice of youngsters has come under fire in Australia. (Photo: AP)

Dhoni’s Choices

Injury concerns in the Indian camp as well after Ajinkya Rahane was forced to get stitches on his right hand after a split webbing in the fourth ODI. He did bat in the run-chase at Canberra, but only because the Indian lower-order was in free-fall.

Being a dead rubber, India could replace him with Manish Pandey who is expected to be slotted into the middle order.

Ravichandran Ashwin who was dropped after the first two ODIs could return in place of Gurkeerat Mann who hasn’t impressed with either bat or ball in his two outings so far. Playing both Jadeja and Ashwin at the SCG may not be such a bad idea.

(Photo: PTI)

Both Ishant and Umesh have played a majority of the matches in this series, and with high workload a factor, the team management might want to give at least one of them some rest.

The last three ODI series under Dhoni’s leadership haven’t gone as per plan. Given the T20 schedule for the next two months, could this be his final match as ODI skipper then? And with a swirl of rumours about his retirement, could this also be the final ODI for the 2011 World Cup winning Indian captain? That, only time will tell.