Australia welcomed back their star players Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Starc into the playing XI as they aimed to avoid a clean sweep against India in the third and final ODI in Rajkot. Let’s dive into the changes and strategies of both teams.

In a bid to turn the tide, Australia made significant changes to their squad. Captain Pat Cummins returned to lead the team after sitting out the second ODI. Additionally, Tanveer Sangha and Mitchell Marsh were also back in the playing XI. This marked a total of five changes from their previous match, with Matt Short, Josh Inglis, Sean Abbott, Adam Zampa, and Spencer Johnson making way for the returning stars.

India, too, made several noteworthy changes to their lineup. The return of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Kuldeep Yadav brought a sense of stability and experience to the team. Jasprit Bumrah, who missed the second ODI, and Mohammed Siraj bolstered the fast bowling unit. Washington Sundar was another inclusion in the squad. This marked a total of six changes for India, with Shubman Gill, Shardul Thakur, Ishan Kishan, R Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, and Ruturaj Gaikwad missing out. Rohit Sharma clarified that Ishan Kishan’s absence was due to illness.

Rohit Sharma, India’s captain, expressed his expectation that the Rajkot pitch would play better under the lights, indicating a preference to field first. This decision was influenced by India’s convincing wins in the first two ODIs, giving them a 2-0 lead in the three-match series.