After a disappointing year of ODI cricket, where India lost all series it played last year, the ODI series against Australia in Australia holds significance. However, India started the series on a disappointing note as despite some great batting display by Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli and a dream start from Barinder Sran, India lost the first ODI at Perth.
Here are the four things that India need to do to perform well in the series:
1. Bowling Strategy: Using two spinners in Australia is always seen as a luxury. And in pitches like Perth, it's too much. Indians suffered because of this mistake as Australia were seldom troubled in 19 overs that Indian spinners bowled, conceding 140 runs. The momentum shifted towards the hosts after the 12th over by Rohit, which cost 11 runs. With Ishant available for the future matches, India must go with 4-1 combination of bowling.
2. Fielding: Fielding was not up to the mark during first ODI. With world class fielders like Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kholi and Ravindra Jadeja, India weren’t at its best on the field. Some chances like Bailey edging Bhuvi must not be missed. 10-15 runs could have been cut off had India fielded like it do off late.
3. Opening: Many feel if Shikhar Dhawan scores, the next partnerships could go for attack rather than steadying the ship. The Kholi-Rohit pair had to play a patient innings at the start and this certainly reduced 20-30 runs to total. Dhawan needs to pull up his socks.
4. Middle Over batting: India scored at rate of 4.5 to 5.5 runs an over between 20-40 overs. During same period, Australia kept the rate around 6 by scoring regular boundaries and rotating the strike with ease. This eased out the pressure off the batsmen. With depth in Indian batting and inexperience in Australian bowling, the batsmen must take some risks to utilise the period to the maximum.