Sydney: India is all set to take on Australia in the third ODI at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Saturday, looking to avoid a 3-0 series whitewash. After narrow defeats in Perth and Adelaide, the Men in Blue are aiming to end their tour on a high note, while Australia seeks to complete a dominant sweep.
Key Updates: Wickets and Player Changes
Australia started strongly on a batting-friendly SCG track, scoring at a good rate. However, India struck at crucial moments:
- Mohammed Siraj dismissed Travis Head early.
- Axar Patel picked up the important wicket of Mitchell Marsh.
With these breakthroughs, India is trying to be more clinical against Australia’s middle order.
Due to injury, Nitish Kumar Reddy misses this match, giving Kuldeep Yadav a chance to showcase his skills in the ODI series. Prasidh Krishna also comes into the playing XI, while Nathan Ellis replaces a player for Australia.
Playing XIs
Australia: Mitchell Marsh (c), Travis Head, Matthew Short, Matt Renshaw, Alex Carey (wk), Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Owen, Nathan Ellis, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
India: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (c), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wk), Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj
Pitch Report
The SCG pitch is traditionally batting-friendly. Pacers may get some movement with the new ball, but as the innings progress, the wicket tends to slow down, offering opportunities for spinners in the middle overs. A competitive total is expected to be 270-280 runs, and history favors the team batting first at this venue.
Head-to-Head Stats
Australia has historically dominated India in ODIs, winning 84 of 152 encounters, while India has won 58 matches, with 10 no-results. At SCG, India’s record is even tougher: 5 wins in 21 matches, and only 2 wins against Australia at this ground.
Players to Watch
Australia:
- Mitchell Marsh: Expected to bounce back after mixed performances.
- Matt Short: Crucial middle-order contributor in Adelaide.
- Adam Zampa: Leg-spinner, key in middle overs.
India:
- Rohit Sharma: In form and looking to anchor the innings.
- Shreyas Iyer: Vice-captain and crucial number four.
- Arshdeep Singh: Leading wicket-taker in the series so far.
Why This Match Matters
While Australia looks to complete a whitewash, India is fighting for pride and credibility in the series. Captain Shubman Gill will aim to avoid a humiliating sweep in his first ODI captaincy stint, while experienced stars like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will look to finish the tour strongly.
