Leeds, July 16: Having being tied 1-1 in the three-match series against England, India would be aiming to plug their loopholes in the third and final ODI when the two sides meet here Tuesday. A win would fetch Virat Kohli’s men their 10th successive series triumph.
The Men in Blue started the series on a rousing note beating the hosts by eight wickets in the first ODI at Nottingham before suffering a 86-run loss in the second game at Lords.
For India opener Shikhar Dhawan and skipper Virat Kohli have been among runs at the top of the order in both the matches but their middle order has been a major concern. Rohit Sharma is also among runs scoring a century in the first game.
KL Rahul, who has been highly recommended in the No.4 position was out for a duck while former skipper MS Dhoni and all rounder Hardik Pandya too failed. Suresh Raina was the only player to offer some resistance with a gritty knock.
However, it remains to be seen whether the team management opts for some change in the middle order with in-form Dinesh Karthik and Shreyas Iyer on the bench.
However, in the bowling department it has been all about chinaman Kuldeep Yadav as others failed. The 23-year-old left-arm wrist spinner bagged a total of nine wickets with a career best of 6/25 in the opening game.
The absence of injured Bhuvneswar Kumar and Jaspit Bumrah in the pace department was largely felt as they lacked penetration, particularly in the death overs with Umesh Yadav and newcomer Siddhart Kaul conceding more than 50 runs in both the matches.
For England meanwhile, not only is this series a chance to improve their record against India. But victory against arguably the toughest opposition they have faced recently will also approve plans ahead of the World Cup in a year’s time.
With Joe Root back among runs and the remaining batsmen negotiating wrist spin to a greater degree, their only concern is the patchy form of all-rounder Ben Stokes. It is also to be noted that England have been consistent in both the batting and bowling departments and will likely to go for a kill Tuesday.
However, England have released Dawid Malan and all-rounder Sam Curran from the squad to allow them to join the England Lions side to face India A and have called Hampshire batsman James Vince in the squad for the final game.