Ind vs Aus: Reasons why Virat Kohli and Co lost the plot

After another defeat in the second ODI in Sydney, India lost the three-match ODI series to Australia on Sunday. While it is safe to say that host were was always a step ahead of India in both the ODI games, it is India’s bowling and fielding that have led them down pointedly.

Here we analyse what led India to surrender the three match ODI series to Australia.

Absence of Rohit Sharma

The batting approach of team India has conjured cries of frustration, not just because they’ve not been able to implement their plans but chiefly because they’ve seemed to lack some modus operandi overall.

In the absence of India’s opening batsman Rohit Sharma, either Shikhar Dhawan or Mayank Agarwal should've played the role of anchor and batted with responsibility. The duo who were in the top five list of highest run-getters in IPL (Indian Premier League) failed to make their mark in the foreign land.

Middle order muddle

Whenever the opening pair is dismissed it’s the foremost duty of the middle order to stable the innings. But the middle order muddle is constant from years for team India. Along with skipper Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja never stepped up to chase the mammoth total in both the games. Hardik Pandya making an appearance with his bat gave some hope for the Indian fans in both the games but he was thoroughly outplayed by Australia.

Bowlers’ flop show

For much of the Indian cricket team’s ODI break, bowling attack has seemed to be their Achilles heel. The Indian bowling was under the scanner coming into the series and they did nothing to ease concerns that the attack has lost its strength, particularly with the new ball.

Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami the lead bowlers for the Blues couldn't threaten Aaron Finch and David Warner yet again. Talking about Navdeep Saini, the right-arm pacer conceded 70 runs in his 7 overs, while Yuzvendra Chahal didn't look in the mood for grabbing wickets in his kitty.

Often too full, the bowling department didn't take the pace off and bowl back of a good length, which as the all-rounder Pandya proved later, was very hard to get away. Shami and Bumrah might be rested for the dead rubber (third ODI) to give the chance to Shardul Thakur and T Natarajan but they need to get back to their best at the earliest.

Team selection issues

The question after losing the first ODI comes to mind is: Might India have derived some benefit by some changes ahead of the second ODI which was a must-win game? India conceded 374 in the first ODI with the bowling department they had, ended up 389 in the second with an unchanged one. It was mainly due to yet another toothless display by the bowlers and their incapability to put the host under pressure.

With Navdeep Saini and Yuzvendra Chahal both proving expensive in the first game, team management could have swapped them with the Kuldeep Yadav and T Natarajan, who are upcoming prospects. Bringing in Kuldeep had given the much-needed confidence while T Natarajan being a relatively unknown prospect for the host, the two could have rendered a genuine explanation for a change.