Pune: Handed a reality check after West Indies salvaged a morale-boosting tie in the second game, India will be hoping to put up an improved bowling show with their frontline pacers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah back in action for the third ODI here, Saturday.
A well-oiled India hammered the Windies in the lung opener in Guwahati by eight wickets, but the gritty visitors indeed, made a statement of sorts in Visakhapatnam, by denying the hosts a victory and a chance to go 2-0 ahead in the five-match rubber.
However the absence of Bhuvi and Bumrah saw Indian bowling unit being clobbered for 320 plus runs in both games. With more variations in their repertoire in white ball cricket compared to the profilgate Umesh Yadav and an inconsistent Mohammed Shami, Bhuvi and Bumrah are expected to make a significant difference, especially in the first Powerplay and the death overs.
India also have issues to ponder over with only 16 games are left before the World Cup in England next year – the fragile middle order and lack of consistency from the lower-middle order batsmen – when they take field at the MCA International stadium.
Skipper Virat Kohli, who surpassed iconic Sachin Tendulkar to score fastest 10,000 runs, has always been the backbone of the team. His back to back hundreds (140 and 157 n o) is just a testimony to it.
Ambati Rayadu, whose 73 consolidated his claim for No.4 spot and a good show Saturday, will only help him make the position his own. But questions remain on a stable numbers 5, 6 and 7.
Veteran MS Dhoni again looked out of sorts in the second ODI and with his ability to finish innings on the wane, the stumper will be under immense pressure to perform. A big score is expected from young Rishabh Pant, who has got the ability to go all guns blazing.
The dew is a big factor during day-night matches in India, something that will worry Kohli since both his wrist spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal were finding it difficult to grip the wet ball. Senior spinner Ravindra Jadeja will have to pull up his socks and can’t afford to be inconsistent with only a few places up for grabs going into the World Cup.
For the visitors, their biggest asset is young Shimron Hetmyer, who has 106 and 94 in the last two games. The 21-year-old southpaw would be raring to go at the Indian bowlers once again along with Shai Hope, who scored an unbeaten century in the last ODI.