A lot to ponder for India as they play for pride in the third ODI

The first One-Day International (ODI) between India and Bangladesh was played under full-time ODI captain Rohit Sharma. Dravid, the team’s head coach, returned to the side after taking a break from the Kiwi tour. The Indian team had lost its second consecutive ODI series just two games into the tour. The team was expected to do well with the big guns returning for the series against Bangladesh, but the likes of Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli failed in both games, leaving India 2-0 down in the series. With Rohit out of the third ODI, the Indian team must not only find the right combination for the next game but also play for pride.

Virat needs to step up

India’s top three were once the most feared in one-day international cricket. However, their lack of runs has meant that the onus is always on the middle order to build the innings. Kohli’s ODI form this year has been the worst since his debut in 2008. In 10 innings, he has only averaged 18.9. The third One-Day International (ODI) between India and Bangladesh will be the team’s final ODI of the year, and the former India captain will hope to make it count, as India needs him to perform better than ever in ODIs this year.

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Middle order needs to be smarter

India lost three quick wickets in the first ODI before Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul had a solid middle-order partnership. However, just as Iyer appeared to be finding his rhythm, he was out while playing a pull shot. Once he was out, people like Sundar, Shahbaz, and Thakur were unable to support Rahul enough because they all managed to leave easily. India lost early wickets in the second ODI, but Iyer and Axar Patel added more than 100 runs for the fifth wicket. However, just as it looked like the team was in control of the chase, Iyer was dismissed while attempting to take on Miraz, and shortly after Iyer’s dismissal, Patel too played a rash shot to give it away. The middle order therefore needs to take the game deep and end the innings well.