An India – Australia ODI series after the Test series marred by pitch doctoring controversy, was expected to be a high scoring one on flat pitches. But the pitches on all three venues offered some support for the bowlers and made the contest enjoyable.

The absence of Cummins turned out to be a blessing in disguise for the Australians and they fielded a set of enthusiastic ODI specialists, and their body language was incredibly positive. On the other hand, India fielded the same Test team with very few changes, and they looked lethargic.

Though India started in style in the first ODI in Mumbai under Hardik Pandya by winning the toss and bowling out Australians for 188, the vulnerability of their top-order batsmen was exposed by Starc who bowled with great rhythm. K L Rahul made use of the opportunity to play a slow and steady innings and steered India home in the company of Jadeja who got the Man of the Match award for his all-round performance.

Rohit Sharma was back as captain for the second ODI at Visakhapatnam and Australia won the toss and fielded. India fielded an extra spinner and Australia fielded an extra pacer and once again Starc destroyed the Indian batting with his superb left-arm pace bowling. The pitch which looked like offering assistance to the bowlers when India batted, turned out to be a belter when the Australians batted. Australian openers decimated the Indian bowlers and won the match by 10 wickets in 11 overs.

Smith won an important toss and decided to bat first in the third ODI at Chennai and their openers carried on their stupendous form. Indian spinners put brakes on the free run of Australian batsmen and restricted them to 269 in 49 overs. Looked like the match slipped from the  Indian hands when the Australians reached 269 after being 203 for 7. Indian openers gave a solid start and the team looked well set to clinch the series at 146 for 2 when Rahul threw away his wicket and Axar who was promoted in order got run out. Batting looked a bit challenging at night and irresponsible shots by Kohli and Pandya and the inability of the rest to rise to the occasion enabled Australians to script a historic series victory.

An analysis of the scores will reveal that Mitchell Marsh and Mitchell Starc were the key performers who laid the foundation for this Australian victory. There were no big individual contributions, but everyone contributed and played as a team. But the Indian team looked jaded and confused. Even though the team management talked about the preparation for the upcoming World Cup, there were no definite plans. Unadkat and Umran were sitting out even on pitches which aided swing and pace. Even though it was the same set of Test batsmen except for Pujara who played for India in ODIs, the selectors did not attempt to strengthen the batting even after seeing their inconsistency in the just concluded Border Gavaskar Trophy. Ishan Kishan wasted the only opportunity he got in Mumbai and Surya Kumar scored three golden ducks and there were no replacements for them in the dressing room.

Should Rohit Sharma continue to lead India in the upcoming World Cup when he is struggling as a batsman? Is K L Rahul the only option as a replacement for Rishab Pant? Without giving opportunities for Umran Malik, how is India going to have an express quickie in the team? With players like Rituraj Gaekwad and Prithvi Shaw waiting, why India is not grooming an explosive opening combination? Why are certain players getting an extended run in the playing eleven compared to others? This ODI series has thrown a plethora of questions to the Indian selectors and team management and they will struggle more to answer them than Surya Kumar to rectify his batting technique.