With the seven-match series level at 1-1 after two games, India and Australia will play the third One Day International (ODI) at Punjab C.A. Stadium, Mohali on Saturday.
Where to Watch Live:
The match will begin at 01:30 pm IST and will be telecast live in India on Star Sports, Star Cricket and ESPN. To live stream online, follow the official link HERE.
Overview:
The seven-match ODI series has essentially become a five-match contest with the series level at 1-1. Australia won the first ODI at Pune by 72 runs before India bounced back, after chasing down a total of 359 in Jaipur.
Both teams will be keen to win and take a lead in the series as they come into the third match on Saturday. India are on a high after the convincing nine-wicket win and will try to keep the momentum going, while the Aussies will look get back in form, after the heavy defeat in the previous match.
Previous Meetings:
Australia have 65-38 win-loss ODI record against India in 111 matches, out of which eight games were abandoned.
Team News:
India: Skipper MS Dhoni is unlikely to change the batting line-up with the top order putting up a splendid performance in the second match. Ishant Sharma is in danger of losing his place in the squad after two dismal performances. Vinay Kumar took two wickets in the previous match but conceded 73 runs from nine overs which is expensive. There are possibilities of replacing both pacers with Shami Ahmed and Jaydev Unadkat.
Australia: The visitors may not change the batting line-up with each of the top five batsmen scoring half centuries in the previous match. However, the performance of the bowlers in the second ODI was a matter of worry, with James Faulkner taking the lone wicket. With all the key bowlers proving expensive on a flat wicket, Nathan Coulter-Nile could find a place in the squad if George Bailey decides to try something new.
Preview:
The 3rd ODI is expected to rain runs with the curator preparing a flat pitch in Mohali, very much like in Pune and Jaipur, which saw a total of 1257 runs being scored.
Openers Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma enjoyed solid starts in the previous match, scoring 95 and 141 (not out) respectively, while Virat Kohli scored a quickfire century from just 52 balls, to script a comfortable second highest run-chase in ODI history. They will be expected to put up a similar show on Saturday too. And with the likes of Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni in the batting line-up, they surely look intimidating and more dependable than the Aussies, at least on paper.
Skipper George Bailey, Aaron Finch and Phillip Hughes are in great form, scoring back-to-back half centuries. Shane Watson and Glenn Maxwell joined the party in the previous match by scoring fifties. The performance of the top order will be key to the outcome of the match, as the pitch is expected to offer nothing for the bowlers.
The real challenge for both the teams in the 3rd ODI will be the performance of the bowlers. With the pitch in Mohali expected to come nicely onto the bat, they will have to work extra hard and plan well in advance to at least restrict the score of the opponents.
Prediction:
India are expected to win the 3rd ODI.
Squads:
India: MS Dhoni (captain), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Shami Ahmed, Jaydev Unadkat, Ravichandran Ashwin, Vinay Kumar, Amit Mishra, Ambati Rayudu
Australia: George Bailey (captain), Adam Voges, Shane Watson, Phillip Hughes, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Brad Haddin, Moises Henriques, Mitchell Johnson, Nic Maddinson, Glenn Maxwell, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Clint McKay
