Last Updated on 4 years by Charbel Coorey

AUS vs IND 3rd ODI Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | AUS vs IND 3rd ODI Dream11 Prediction Today | Australia vs India 3rd ODI Key Players | Manuka Oval Canberra Pitch Report

The second ODI was almost a carbon copy of the first. India, as has been the case in ODIs in 2020, struggled for penetration in the powerplay overs. As a result, Aaron Finch and David Warner (who is now out of the series) set up a great platform. And, in the ultimate dose of deja vu, Steve Smith scored his second-straight 62-ball century. And fans were in awe of such a genius.

By the time India started their run chase, there was just too much to do. A required run rate of nearly eight an over from the get-go is mighty difficult, and Australia’s batting dominance is highlighted most by the fact that India have scored 308 and 338 this series, only to lose by a combined margin of 117 runs. So, the onus is on India’s bowling and fielding to improve significantly to avoid their first bilateral ODI series whitewash to Australia.

For the Aussies, it is about producing more of the same with the bat, despite David Warner’s injury. Aaron Finch’s form has been terrific, and with Steve Smith in such a mood, Australia can hope for another ideal situation where Glenn Maxwell comes in just at the right time to wreak havoc. Mitchell Starc’s form, like Jasprit Bumrah’s for India, is a concern, so a good performance by Starc and an Aussie win will seal a perfect series for the home side.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

• Two matches, two 62-ball hundreds. 1,116 ODI runs at an average of 65.64 and SR 105.88 against this opponent. Steve Smith simply loves playing against India.
• Also, Smith has scored three half-centuries in three ODIs at Manuka Oval (total of 196 runs, avg. 98.00, SR 122.50).
• Aaron Finch has hit a century and half-century this series (second-most runs with 174, avg. 87). Also, Finch enjoys batting in Canberra, with two centuries in four matches (overall average of 68.25).
• Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli are two of India’s linchpins. In India’s only ODI in Canberra to date, both Dhawan and Kohli struck centuries, back in 2016.
• Dhawan’s last few scores in ODIs vs Australia: 117 (109), 74 (91), 96 (90), 74 (86) and 30 (23).
• Marnus Labuschagne has put his hand up to replace Warner as opener. Whether he opens or bats four, one can back Labuschagne to continue his fine form. In fact, Labuschagne has made four 50+ scores in 11 ODIs, with an overall average of 42.36 and SR 92.09.
• Hardik Pandya has been one of the big positives for India in a disappointing series so far. The hard-hitting right-hander is their leading run-scorer (118) and showed them the template to bowl effectively at the SCG (1/24 in four overs).
• Another great positive for Australia has been the form of Glenn Maxwell. It is still barely believable that he didn’t hit a six in the IPL 2020, especially given he has slammed 108 runs at a strike rate of 225 so far this series.
• Adam Zampa has taken 26 wickets in his last 12 ODIs. Overall, he has an impressive 26 wickets in 15 ODIs against India, including six in two matches this series. His economy rate of under six in a high-scoring series suggests he is hitting the right lengths consistently.
• Josh Hazlewood has taken five wickets in two matches this series. Also, he has dismissed Virat Kohli twice, both caught in the mid-wicket region.
• No bowler has taken more wickets in ODIs than Mohammed Shami’s 54 since the start of 2019. Can he and the struggling Jasprit Bumrah deliver powerplay wickets?
• Mitchell Starc, like Bumrah, has been under par in ODIs in 2020. However, Starc enjoys playing at this ground, with seven wickets in three ODIs at Manuka Oval.

Also read: Some awesome Twitter reactions to an awesome innings by Steve Smith in the 2nd ODI

Stats and Facts

• In the only ODI between Australia and India so far at Canberra, India were 277/1 chasing 349. With just 72 required in 75 balls, and Kohli and Dhawan each past 100, India then lost 9/46 to lose the match.
• Aaron Finch scored a run-a-ball 107 in that same ODI. Steve Smith smashed 51 off 29 balls, and Glenn Maxwell had a field day too with 41 off 20 balls.
• The great Virat Kohli needs 23 runs to reach 12,000 in ODIs. Sachin Tendulkar is currently the quickest to the mark at 300 innings. Kohli has currently played 241.
• In 2019, Mitchell Starc took 27 ODI wickets at an average of 18.59. In 2020, he has taken 12 wickets at 54.25. Jasprit Bumrah is also struggling compared to last year, with three wickets at an average of 146.33 in 2020 compared to 25 wickets at 24.6 in 2019.
• Yuzvendra Chahal has taken 1/160 in his 19 overs so far this series. Navdeep Saini hasn’t fared better, with 1/153 in his 17. With India choosing five bowlers (excluding Hardik), these figures are damning.

Possible Playing 11

David Warner is out with a groin strain, which has put him in doubt for the first Test starting on December 17. Either Matthew Wade or D’Arcy Short are likely to replace him at opener. Another option is promoting Marnus Labuschagne to opener and bringing in Cameron Green, but Finch spoke about left and right hand opening combinations.

Pat Cummins, who bowled nicely in the second ODI, has been rested for the remaining white-ball games. So, Sean Abbott, who has been excellent in Sheffield Shield cricket this season, is likely to come in.

Australia: 1. Aaron Finch (c), 2. Matthew Wade/D’Arcy Short, 3. Steve Smith, 4. Marnus Labuschagne, 5. Moises Henriques, 6. Alex Carey (wk), 7. Glenn Maxwell, 8. Sean Abbott, 9. Mitchell Starc, 10. Adam Zampa, 11. Josh Hazlewood

India have bigger headaches. The form of Yuzvendra Chahal and Navdeep Saini prompted Virat Kohli to turn to Hardik Pandya, who hasn’t been bowling in recent times due to his return from a back injury. So, India could look to bring in Kuldeep Yadav and Shardul Thakur/T Natarajan.

India: 1. Mayank Agarwal/Shubman Gill, 2. Shikhar Dhawan, 3. Virat Kohli (c), 4. Shreyas Iyer, 5. KL Rahul (wk), 6. Hardik Pandya, 7. Ravindra Jadeja, 8. Shardul Thakur/Navdeep Saini/T. Natarahan, 9. Mohammed Shami, 10. Jasprit Bumrah, 11. Yuzvendra Chahal/Kuldeep Yadav

Manuka Oval Canberra Pitch Report and Weather

Historically, Canberra is a flat pitch. In fact, of all grounds to host at least five ODIs since 2000, Manuka Oval has the highest run rate (6.36). The average first innings score in the last five ODIs on this ground is a massive 355.2, with the team batting first going on to win all five matches. Australia have scored 348/8 and 378/5 in their last two ODIs on this ground (vs India and New Zealand in 2016).

The weather forecast is sunny and 26 degrees.

Also read: Some awesome Twitter reactions to an awesome innings by Steve Smith in the 2nd ODI

Dream11 Prediction

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Option 2:

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Match Prediction

Batting first could prove key in this match. Australia is playing much better cricket at the moment, so India will be keen to put runs on the board and defend. If Australia bat first, they will be hard to stop.

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