After Australia series defeat, Aakash Chopra throws four big questions at Team India

The five-match ODI series between India and Australia was seen as an opportunity for the hosts to try out some fringe players and win another series to go to the World Cup with their confidence sky high. But five games later, India are down on confidence and have several questions to answer with just over two months remaining before the event. Not many would have predicted Australia would give India a stiff challenge especially after the latter raced away to a 2-0 lead.

However, the visitors, the reigning world champions, bounced back in style to win the last three games and stun the fancied hosts. The win was Australia’s first ODI series win since the 2016-17 season and India’s first defeat at home since 2015. Unsurprisingly, the defeat would have dented Team India‘s confidence. It has also left the team-management a lot to ponder about ahead of the showpiece event in England.

With no more assignment before the World Cup, India have failed to find answers to several questions as far as the team combination is concerned. Well, former India Test opener Aakash Chopra has listed out four prominent questions that have been India’s achilles heels for quite some time now.

“Questions before the series
1. Who’s the third opener?
2. Who’s India’s number 4?
3. Who’s India’s fourth seamer?
4. Who’s India’s back-up keeper?
How many are answered by the end of it?” tweeted Chopra.

Questions before the series
1. Who’s the third opener?
2. Who’s India’s number 4?
3. Who’s India’s fourth seamer?
4. Who’s India’s back-up keeper?
How many are answered by the end of it? #IndvAus

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 13, 2019

The questions are pretty valid given the way the series panned out. KL Rahul was tipped as the backup opener but he played just one game and even in that game, he batted at number three. Ambati Rayudu, seen as the man to end India’s long wait for the number four batsman, once again backfired and played just three games, failing in all of them. The search for India’s fourth pacer has not ended yet while Rishabh Pant disappointed miserably in his audition for the backup wicketkeeper.

Pretty settled

While the cricketing fraternity is busy debating India’s unsettled unit, skipper Virat Kohli thinks otherwise. Speaking with the media after the loss in the fifth ODI, Kohli insisted that the team is pretty much settled. The 30-year old said the team-management is sure over who to play in the playing eleven.

“As a side, combination wise, we are pretty sorted condition based. Maximum one change, you’ll get to see,” Kohli said. “But other than that, the XI we want to play, we are pretty clear about it. As a side, we’re balanced. Hardik Pandya will come back to the team. With him, there’s batting depth, and bowling option opens up. We know where we have to go as a combination. The XI is clear in our head. We just have to take better decisions in pressure situations to go far in the World Cup.”

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