India vs Australia: Mahendra Singh Dhoni's Best Chance to Win Series Down Under
India's team packs a punch in all departments and they should be confident of performing on Australian decks. The hosts meanwhile, may have done well in Test matches off late, but will surely miss the services of in-form Mitchell Starc and recently retired Mitchell Johnson.
As India embark on a tour of Australia consisting of five one-day internationals and three Twenty20 internationals in January 2016, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his team would like to feed off from the momentum of a crushing 3-0 Test series win over World No. 1 South Africa. (India in Australia: Top 10 Memorable One-Day International Contests)
Bolstered by return of the likes of Mohammad Shami, Ravindra Jadeja and Yuvraj Singh for the ODI and Twenty20 squad respectively, India would like to get revenge on the hosts for an embarrassing Test and ODI series Down Under, last year. India lost the four Test series 2-0, a series which saw the retirement of Dhoni from the longer format of the game. In the ODIs, India failed to register a single win in the Tri-Series, which also involved England while they lost to Australia in the semi-final of the 2015 World Cup. (Quitting Tests May Hurt Mahendra Singh Dhoni's Future as Team India Captain: Kapil Dev)
On his last tour here, Shami had a wonderful time with the ball, picking up 17 wickets from seven matches in the World Cup. Since then, Shami hasn't played a single game in international cricket due to surgery on his knee which was injured during the course of the World Cup. India's recent struggles in ODIs, where they failed to win a single bilateral series in 2015, showed why he is such a potent force in Indian bowling line-up.
Australia on their part too are vulnerable. Former India batsman VVS Laxman was of the view that it was India's best chance to win series Down Under. (Steve Smith to Play on For Australia Despite Knee Injury)
""This Australian team is definitely quite beatable and vulnerable. They have a depleted side. They do not have two key players - Michael Clarke, who led them to World Cup victory, and Mitchell Johnson, who was lately one of the world's most lethal bowlers," Laxman told NDTV.
"They also do not have Mitchell Starc, Shane Watson looks iffy and will be under pressure to perform, Steven Smith is injured and they have no Brad Haddin. The only real danger will be David Warner.
"India on the other hand have a very good chance. Our bowling is doing really well and Ravichandran Ashwin is bowling the best he has ever bowled in his life. India have quality plus the balance of the side is very good," Laxman added.
Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan flourished well on Australian pitches during the World Cup, giving an indication that they quite enjoy the ball coming on to the bat. The openers amassed 330 and 412 runs respectively during the World Cup from eight matches.
The presence of Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane gives India batting a settled look. The inclusion of Ravindra Jadeja for the one-day series gives Dhoni much needed accuracy in the middle overs where he can look to contain.
With Jadeja in prime form following the South Africa series where he picked up 23 wickets in four Tests coupled with the form of Ravichandran Ashwin, who was the leading wicket-taker in Tests with 62 wickets in seven Tests in 2015, has given Dhoni the much-needed cushion in terms of playing with five bowlers on flat Australian decks.
Yuvraj Singh, who has been included in the Twenty20 squad following is brilliant form in the Vijay Hazare trophy with 346 runs at an average of 69.20, would look to make a statement and stake his claim for selection for the World Twenty20. The 2011 Player of the Tournament, may have been his a show of his performances, but still has enough strike force to make it to the team. (Yuvraj Singh Disappointed at Not Making Cut for ODIs in Australia)
The pace attack looks impressive with Ishant Sharma bowling in good rhythm in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy and Umesh Yadav also chipping in. Brainder Sran, who picked up 14 wickets in seven games in the Vijay Hazare might get a look-in as India aims to look at the future.
Australia is in the midst of a transition period, with the retirement of several key players and also injury to their pace spearhead, Starc.
With India having a stable batting line-up which combines experience and aggression as well as a bowling unit that has all bases covered, this is the best chance for Dhoni and his men to pull off a spectacular win in Australia.
They only need to look back eight years ago, when against the odds, they halted the Australian juggernaut to win their first triangular series competition in Australia.