3rd ODI: India opt to bat vs Australia, T Natarajan makes debut

Virat Kohli’s Indian cricket team won the toss and chose to bat in the third and final ODI against Australia at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on Wednesday. Australia have already clinched the three-match series 2-0 after wins in Sydney and they will be gunning for a whitewash. India, on the other hand, will be aiming to play for pride after losing two high-scoring encounters in Sydney. Australia have never lost a game at the Manuka Oval and in the last encounter between the two sides in 2016, India suffered a disastrous collapse to lose by a narrow margin despite centuries from Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan.

There were plenty of changes for both sides. T Natarajan, who impressed in the IPL 2020 for Sunrisers Hyderabad, was handed an ODI debut in place of Navdeep Saini. T Natarajan, who is best known for his yorkers, received his ODI cap from Virat Kohli just before the toss. Shubman Gill replaced Mayank Agarwal while Shardul Thakur replaced Mohammed Shami in the Indian cricket team line-up. For Australia, there were some changes as well.

Cameron Green, who impressed in the Sheffield Shield tournament, was handed a debut for Australia while Pat Cummins was rested. David Warner, who is in doubt even for the Test series, will not play this match or the T20I series. In Warner’s place, Marnus Labuschagne will open the batting. Ashton Agar and Sean Abbott were included in the Australia line-up.

However, there was more concern for Australia as Mitchell Starc was also rested following a biggle to his back and rib. Aaron Finch, the Australia skipper, said at the toss, “We have got three changes. Starc got a back and rib niggle and the medical team informed us that he will greatly benefit by resting, and obviously Davey and Pat Cummins not playing today. Green is making his debut, Sean Abbott and Ashton Agar come in too. Marnus will be opening for us. No such thing as a dead-rubber when you are playing for Australia and we will be doing everything we can to try and win the game.”

Playing 11s

Australia: Aaron Finch(c), Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Moises Henriques, Alex Carey(w), Cameron Green, Ashton Agar, Sean Abbott, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

India: Shikhar Dhawan, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli(c), Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul(w), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, T Natarajan