Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni star as India force series into decider

Virat Kohli set it up and, for the first time in a while, MS Dhoni was there to finish it although India were grateful to a cameo from Dinesh Karthik to secure a six-wicket win with four balls remaining. The victory set up a series decider in Melbourne on Friday.

When Kohli found deep midwicket shortly after reaching his 39th ODI hundred - one he celebrated in animated fashion - India still needed 57 off 38 balls and Dhoni had played a very sedate second fiddle to the captain. He launched Nathan Lyon for six and had just enough in the tank and the legs to ensure a meltdown on social media was perhaps avoided for now. He ensured the victory when he swung Jason Behrendorff over long-on with the first ball of the final over.

Vijay Shankar, Shubman Gill named replacements for Pandya, Rahul

India have roped in Shubman Gill and Vijay Shankar to replace KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya for the ongoing ODI series in Australia as well as the limited-overs series in New Zealand that follows. While Gill will join the squad only for the New Zealand tour that comprises of five ODIs and three T20Is, Vijay will be joining the team ahead of the second ODI of the ongoing series against Australia.

Pandya and Rahul, who were part of the initial squad to Australia, were sent back home after BCCI took an objection to the comments they made on a chat show on TV. The duo have been given seven days to explain why proceedings shouldn't be initiated against them for misconduct and indiscipline under Rule 41 of the BCCI Constitution.

19-year-old Gill will return to New Zealand where he was named the player of the tournament during India's successful U-19 World Cup campaign last year. Post the tournament, he has had a rapid rise that saw him make runs for India A and for Punjab in the domestic circuit. Gill also managed to bag an IPL contract for the first time when he was picked up by Kolkata Knight Riders and the fruitful 12-month period has culminated in a maiden callup to the senior side.

Vijay on the other hand, has already represented India five times in the T20 format when he was picked to play in the Nidahas Trophy. He is widely viewed by the selectors as the backup pace bowling allrounder and had a good outing in New Zealand recently during the A tour.

India's balance problems with series on the line

That was largely unexpected. Australia produced arguably their best ODI performance in two years to convincingly take the honours at the SCG and, as in the T20 series which began the tour, leave India needing to find a response.

Australia's batting was efficient rather than electric and the question remains whether the current line-up, with Glenn Maxwell at No. 7, has the firepower to push 350 when required but in Sydney they scored enough runs and defended them impressively. It was the new-ball attack of Jason Behrendorff and Jhye Richardson that stood out, taking six wickets between them, and providing a reminder that pace bowling is where Australia's depth is at its greatest.

India's performance reinforced the issues they need to resolve before the World Cup later this year. MS Dhoni's innings fuelled the debate about whether he can still do the role needed at this level - although he entered at a very difficult time - with Rohit Sharma later saying he'd like Dhoni at No. 4. That discussion is likely to remain throughout this series and the rest of India's matches before the tournament.

In the spotlight

It is shaping as a season he'll want to forget for captain Aaron Finch who collected another low score in the opening match when Bhuvneshwar Kumar nipped one back between bat and pad. Despite their victory, Australia have enough issues to think about in their side without the form of the captain heading into a World Cup year being one of them. He has plenty of time to turn it around, but starting in Adelaide would be handy.

The Sydney ODI was Ambati Rayudu's first competitive match for more than two months and it showed. He was caught in the crease, beaten for pace by Richardson, to be trapped lbw and then used up India's review which could later have been used to save Dhoni. He has the backing of Virat Kohli which counts for a lot and scored heavily against West Indies last year but will need to get himself back up to speed swiftly. The less said about his bowling, which has been reported for a suspect action, the better.

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