India is on the verge of creating history as the men in blue aim for an impressive clean sweep of Australia in the third and final One Day International (ODI) scheduled for Wednesday. As the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup approaches, Team India intends to wrap up their preparations in a splendid fashion.
India has never managed to achieve a clean sweep against the formidable Australian cricket team in the ODI format, and similarly, Australia hasn’t been able to do so against India, whether they’ve played at home or away, regardless of the series length.
Even though the Indian team is without some of its key players and has been trying different combinations to provide valuable match experience to every squad member, they currently hold a commanding position with three consecutive ODI victories on the horizon. If India can clinch a 3-0 series victory, it would mark a historic milestone and grant them a significant advantage over the five-time world champions, Australia. Both teams are set to face each other again in Chennai on October 8 for their World Cup opener, and India’s possible clean sweep would undeniably provide them with a psychological advantage.
In the first two ODIs, India displayed their dominance, with both teams making multiple adjustments to ensure their star players’ fitness and offer chances to less-experienced squad members. Notably, India’s rising star, Shubman Gill, who has been in tremendous form in the ODI format, will be sitting out the final ODI.
The comeback of batting veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, along with the in-form Kuldeep Yadav and Hardik Pandya after a short break, is anticipated. KL Rahul, who capably led the team when Rohit was unavailable, has also made significant contributions with both his batting and wicket keeping skills. India’s revival has been marked by the rise of promising talents like Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj, all of whom have strengthened the team’s overall depth.
As the World Cup approaches, Australia might be inclined to deploy their preferred bowling lineup, including Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc. However, their batting order has been lacking in firepower, with Travis Head facing difficulties at the opening position and Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne having a challenging time in Indian conditions.
