5 changes India should look at making after the ODI series loss against Australia
India might have lost the ODI series to Australia 4-1, but it was anything but a one-sided series. In fact, the series was one India should probably have won, especially given the positions they were in the games.In the crunch situations, the visitors were unable to make it count and that was the reason for the margin of defeat. It probably would have been a whitewash, if it weren't for the exploits of Manish Pandey, who along with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, emerged as some of the positives from this tour.Although India are still ranked No.2 in the world, they need to make a few changes if they are to hold onto their spot or even challenge Australia for the top spot.Here are 5 changes India should look at making after the ODI series loss against Australia:
#5 Find an all-rounder
Ravindra Jadeja is a player that divides opinion at the best of times. In the Australia series, although his bowling was good, considering the runs the others were leaking, his batting was found wanting. He showed despite his heroics with the bat on this day in 2014 in Auckland, when he kept the series against New Zealand alive and tied an improbable game, he isn't an all-rounder.
At best, he is a good bowler, who can hit a few out of the park, if he gets it in his zone. If India want someone to play at No.5 or No.6, they need someone who has the ability to finish games, like Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh or even Suresh Raina has, not one who is going to pass on the responsibility to debutants like Jadeja did in the fourth ODI.
Whether it is the in-form Irfan Pathan or even Hardik Pandya, who was excellent in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, India need a finisher at No.7 and Jadeja, while a good bowler, isn't that. So India's quest for an all-rounder continues.