Handicapped by the poor form of some of their key bowlers,
India will be under intense pressure as they go into the do-or-die sixth
cricket one-dayer against an upbeat Australia on Wednesday, fully aware that
any slip-up at this stage could cost them the series. Cricket lovers
may have doubts over the fate of the sixth ODI between Indian and Australia, after back-to-back washouts at Ranchi and
Cuttack. However, it seems players will get to sweat out at the Vidarbha Cricket Association
Stadium, Nagpur on Wednesday, with the weather expected to be dry and humid.
It is quite assured and assumed
that there will be no rain pouring down in Nagpur. Only fours and sixes. The
new Jamtha stadium is known for its flat pitches in ODIs. Of the six ODIs
played here, first-innings totals in five have been more than 290. Netherlands
scored 292 here against England, India failed to defend 296 once. Add to it the new
regulations of two balls from each end, and only four fielders outside the
circle probably it’s going to be another run feast.
Australia lead
the series 2-1 and are just a win away from clinching the series. They will
come into the Nagpur game with less pressure, as they will still have one more
chance to win the series. However, pressure will build up if they loss the
sixth ODI.
India, on the other hand,
will come into contest, well aware of the fact that another loss would mean a
series defeat. They need to win both the remaining games to avoid a series loss
and it won't be easy, despite boasting a strong batting line-up.
The
questions around the team combination remain the same since there wasn't a ball
bowled in the previous ODI. Mohammed Shami and Jaydev Unadkat should retain
their places, with Bhuvneshwar
Kumar possibly replacing R Vinay Kumar.
The sixth
ODI at Nagpur is expected to be a great contest with both teams having players
with good form. They are expected to score big, like in the previous games, and
no total seems to be too big for these teams, which has been the beauty of this
series.
