In what promises to be yet another high scoring match, India and Australia will play the last and 7th One Day International (ODI) at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore on Saturday. The series is tied 2-2 after two games were abandoned due to rain.
Where to Watch Live:
The 7th ODI match will begin at 01:30 pm IST on Saturday and it will be telecast live in India on Star Sports, Star Cricket and ESPN channels. For live streaming, log on to Star Sports website.
Overview:
The seventh and last game of the series is expected to be an excited one, as its outcome will decide the winner of the series. India and Australia have won two matches each after two matches were washed out.
Known for its flat pitch, bowlers are likely to have a hard time again. A total of 350 can be chased down as seen in the earlier, so the teams that bat first will try to put up a huge total on the board.
India will come into the contest with high confidence after chasing 350 in Nagpur. The fact that they chased down a mammoth score of 359 earlier at Jaipur, which was the second highest successful run chase in ODI history, will make them believe that they are capable of scoring big and win despite dismal performance by the bowlers. They will be keen to win the series.
Australia will be disappointed that they let India chased down big totals and will be keen to not only take revenge but also win the series. They have consistently scored big this series, and that will boost their morale. They will also take confidence in the fact that their bowlers are in better form than their counterparts.
Previous Meetings:
Australia have 66-39 win-loss ODI record against India in 115 matches, out of which 10 games were abandoned.
Team News:
India: MS Dhoni is expected to field the same squad that played at Nagpur. Ishant Sharma and Vinay Kumar are likely to warm the bench despite not so impressive performance from Mohammad Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the previous game. Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh too have failed to contribute with their bats but they expected to play in the crucial match on Saturday.
Australia: The visitors will miss fast bowler Mitchell Johnson in the last match of the series, as he is heading home to prepare for the upcoming Ashes. Nathan Coulter-Nile or Moises Henriques could take his place. Skipper George Bailey may field the same batting squad that played in the previous game.
Preview:
Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli scored centuries apiece at Nagpur, while Rohit Sharma scored a calculated 79, helping India chase down a huge total of 350. They will be expected to come up with a similar big knocks on Saturday. The main worry for the host is the poor form of middle order - Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina. They along with MS Dhoni need to step in if the top order fails to give a good start.
Bowlers have been having hard time this season due to flat tracks but they should show discipline and take early wickets to put pressure on the opponents. If are able to that, India have good chance of winning the series.
Australia on the hand are adapting well to the Indian conditions. They have regularly managed to put big totals, though for a losing cause in a couple of matches. But the way George Bailey and Shane Watson, who scored centuries each in the previous match, batted at Nagpur will boost their confidence. In fact, Watson's return of form is a plus point for the team.
They will miss their main bowler Mitchell Johnson but they are no doubt stronger than India in bowling department. Their main worry will be the inconsistency of some of the batsmen.
Prediction:
India are expected to win the last 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, Nic Maddinson, Glenn Maxwell, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Clint McKay
