India’s unfortunate run with the toss in One Day Internationals shows no signs of letting up. In the third ODI against Australia, the coin once again fell in favor of the hosts, who chose to bat first, marking India’s astonishing 18th consecutive toss defeat in this format. The last time India managed to win a toss was during the CWC 2023 semifinals against New Zealand at Wankhede Stadium. However, despite this persistent ‘toss curse,’ captain Shubman Gill expressed confidence, stating that the team was comfortable bowling first, effectively getting the conditions they desired.
For this crucial third match, India made a couple of strategic changes to their playing eleven. Spin wizard Kuldeep Yadav was brought in, replacing Prasidh Krishna, who in turn stepped in for Arshdeep Singh. Unfortunately, Nitish Kumar Reddy was sidelined due to a left quadriceps injury sustained during the second ODI in Adelaide, and the BCCI medical team is closely monitoring his recovery.
**India’s Playing XI:** Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (captain), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.
**Australia’s Playing XI:** Mitchell Marsh (captain), Travis Head, Matthew Short, Matt Renshaw, Alex Carey (wicketkeeper), Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Owen, Nathan Ellis, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.
A major point of focus for Indian fans will be the performance of star batsman Virat Kohli. After being dismissed for two consecutive ducks in the first two ODIs – a first in his illustrious career – Kohli will be eager to regain his form. Both he and Rohit Sharma are undoubtedly looking to finish this Australian tour on a high note, especially as these matches could potentially mark their final appearances in ODIs on Australian soil.
India’s historical record in One Day Internationals at the Sydney Cricket Ground has been quite disappointing. Out of 18 matches played there, India has secured only two victories (in 2008 and 2016), suffering 16 defeats. The team will be highly motivated to overturn this unfavorable record and deliver a memorable performance, especially as a fitting farewell for Rohit and Kohli in Australia.