Third ODI win proves that India can't afford both Dhoni and Rayudu
India won the bilateral series against Australia by a margin of 2-1, but, the middle-order conundrum still stands as far as finding the perfect combination for the World Cup is concerned. Without a shadow of a doubt, India's top order is settled, but, they are still fiddling around with the middle order slots.
Australian series was another attempt to solve this middle-order puzzle. Though its difficult to figure out what is going on in the minds of people who are part of the Indian ODI think-tank, one thing is clear after the Australian ODI series - Indian team cannot afford to have both MS Dhoni and Ambati Rayudu in the middle order.
In modern-day ODI cricket, it is imperative for a team to score at a rate of more than a run a ball and both Dhoni and Ambati Rayudu take time to settle down at the crease, which results in a lot of dot balls. In such a scenario the batsman at the other end has to make sure that scoring momentum is kept up.
Players like Kohli, Sharma and Dhawan are capable of maintaining a decent strike-rate which can provide a window for batsmen like Rayudu and Dhoni to get set. However, imagine a situation where India is chasing a 300 plus score with Dhoni and Rayudu at the crease, it is a no-brainer that India will not be able to afford two slow starters in such a scenario.
On the other hand, India has players like Karthik and Jadhav who have the capabilities to hit the ball from the word go. The Australian ODI series once again reinforced the faith in their hitting prowess. Karthik provided the much-needed momentum during the second ODI while Kedar Jadhav provided the required late flourish during the third and final ODI.
After taking into account the performances during the recently concluded series against Australia it is quite evident that India's number 4, 5 and 6 should be Dhoni, Karthik and Jadhav. Dhoni has the ability to steady the innings with his measured batting approach while Karthik and Jadhav both have the ability to provide the necessary impetus to take the team across the finishing line.
Rayudu and Dhoni have similar kind of game, they are slow starters which jeopardises the balance of the Indian side and India will have to pick one of these two, to maintain the balance of the eleven. Having said that, the way Dhoni performed during the Australian series it is more or less certain that Rayudu is the guy who is going to miss out.