SYDNEY, Nov 28: India�s battered bowling unit will have little time to regroup and limited resources at its disposal in a desperate bid to perform a redemption act and save the ODI series against a turbo-charged Australia in the second game here on Sunday.
It wasn�t just about the margin of defeat � by 66 runs � but the manner in which the home team exposed India�s vacant cupboard of all-rounders that will give Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri numerous points to ponder.
Hardik Pandya�s 76-ball-90 was at best a good innings but just like the Champions Trophy final in 2017, the sparkling knock was never going to help India win the contest.
Adding insult to injury which was Pandya�s frank admission that he is not bowling any time soon and even if he rolls his arm over, it is likely to be in 20-over World Cups.
So with no back-up all-rounders or a plan B in place, India will have to execute their plan A perfectly.
That leaves Kohli with bowlers who can�t bat and a top-order where none can bowl. Kohli did bowl an over or two but that is history as far as the skipper is concerned.
With Australia�s top three � captain Aaron Finch, David Warner and Steve Smith � hitting the straps right away, Jasprit Bumrah and company will have no option but to pick up the pieces and give a better account of themselves on a strip that promises to be a belter.
It is highly unlikely that India�s combination will change unless both Yuzvendra Chahal and Navdeep Saini are declared unfit.
The duo collectively conceded 172 runs in 20 overs between them and the wiry wrist-spinner did leave the field after sustaining an on-field injury just after the completion of his spell.
Saini, on the other hand, has back spasms and Thangarasu Natarajan has been inducted in the 50-over squad as a cover.
In case they are ruled out, Shardul Thakur, with decent batting abilities could replace Saini and Kuldeep Yadav�s inclusion will be a forced change.
For Australia, it is possible that highly-rated all-rounder Cameron Green will be rewarded with an ODI cap as Marcus Stoinis picked up a side strain during the first game.
Both skipper Finch and Smith hinted that Green is in line for an ODI debut.
While a five-bowler theory is certainly hurting India, some of the shot selections at the top of the order left a lot to be desired.
Especially Shreyas Iyer, whose dismissal was an embarrassing sight as he fended awkwardly to a well-directed bouncer from Josh Hazlewood. For Mayank Agarwal too, extra bounce became his undoing but he is too good a player to fail consistently. � PTI
