Sourav Ganguly column: Time for Dhoni to get ODI team back on track

India play their first game at Perth and this series actually kick-starts their preparations for the forthcoming T20 World Cup at home. Many people might question the merit of playing a series in Australia when the World Cup will be played in the sub-continent, but if India can put it across the Aussies in their backyard it will be a huge morale-booster.

Perth has been the quickest pitch in Australia, though it is not what it was. The ball travels and stroke-players enjoy playing here as the true bounce gives them value for their shots. Australia will be without two of their bowling spearheads, Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc. They are going to unleash new fast bowlers along with Josh Hazlewood and James Faulkner. It will be interesting to see whether they are good enough to carry forward the fast-bowling tradition.

The Aussies have no spinners in their team, which is not a surprise. A lot of overseas captains believe that playing pace against Indians is the best option. It’s a run-saving and wicket-taking opportunity as well. Glenn Maxwell is the lone spinner and in the past, he has got wickets when the quicks at the other end have put pressure on the batsmen.

The Australian batting will revolve around Steve Smith. The opening pair of David Warner and Aaron Finch play aggressively and Smith and George Bailey could pace the innings in the middle. They also have ‘Mad Max’ Maxwell who blows away the opposition on his day. It’s a very balanced batting unit in their conditions and with Faulkner at 8, it makes it a long one.

The Indian bowling will have to bowl as a unit. The quicks will play as big a role as the spinners and they must remember that India looked a very good bowling unit in the World Cup because the fast bowlers were effective. Umesh Yadav will not have Mohammad Shami at the other end but it will be a great opportunity for the young fast bowlers, given the bowling conditions.

India will also be looking to Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravinder Jadeja to rattle the Australians. Ashwin has been in prime form and his performance on Aussie soil will bear testimony to his progress. The Australians generally don’t play left-arm spinners well, so Jadeja could also be a key factor. India will need Umesh and Ishant Sharma to fire in the opening overs and I will be watching Barinder Sran. He has had two decent opening games but it’s the big stage that matters. India have a few young all-rounders in Gurkeerat Mann and Axar Patel, so the captain will have options.

Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan are formidable as an opening pair; then you have Virat Kohli. Ajinkya Rahane has proved his mettle on foreign soil. Suresh Raina’s absence presents an opportunity for people like Manish Pandey. We will see whether M.S. Dhoni keeps himself at four or goes down the order. He will be playing after a long break and this will be an important series for him for, even though he has been named captain till the World Cup, he will have to get this team back on track in the shorter format.

(Gameplan)