IND vs AUS: 4 reasons why Mitchell Starc could be a threat to India in 3rd ODI

Mitchell Starc (Source - Twitter)

Australia crushed India by 10 wickets in the second ODI to level the three-match series by 1-1. The main anchor for Australia’s win was the left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc who took a five-wicket haul as India were bowled out for just 117 runs in Visakhapatnam. Starc completely thrashed the Indian top order by taking the big wickets of Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, and KL Rahul. Later he cleared the stumps of Mohammed Siraj to end the Indian innings in 26 overs.

Now as the series stands at 1-1, both teams will play a decider at the Chepauk Stadium in Chennai. Starc will be a crucial player for Australia to win the series. While the Indians need to come up with a solid plan to get rid of Starc. Here are the top four reasons why Starc can be a threat to the Indian batters in the third ODI.

Red-Hot Form

Starc crushes Indian top order (Source - Twitter)

The 33-year-old pacer has shown great form in the ongoing series as he also troubled the Indian top order in the first ODI in Mumbai. Starc picked the big wickets of Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and Suryakumar Yadav. The hosts were reduced to 39 for 4 while chasing 189 runs against the Aussies. It was the heroics of Kl Rahul (75 off 91) and Ravindra Jadeja (45 off 69) which took India as they won the match by 5 wickets. In the second ODI, Starc again showed why is still one of the great fast bowlers after troubling the Indian batters again. He scalped 5 wickets by conceding 53 runs in eight overs.

Indian batters' struggles against left-arm pacers

Starc strikes in the first over (Source - Twitter)

Indian batters have been struggling against the left-arm pacers, and it was proved in the first two games. The top Indian batters completely surrendered against Australia’s left-hander in the first two games. India managed to recover from the early losses in Mumbai, but Australia didn’t give India the chance to make a comeback in Vizag as they chased 118 runs in just 11 overs without losing any wickets. Indian batters need to come up with a strategy to take on Starc in the series decider in Chennai, or else there can be another top-order collapse.

Starc terror in the powerplay

Starc sends Surya for second consecutive golden duck (Source - Twitter)

Mitchell Starc has been a nightmare for the Indian batter in the first overs in both matches. The left-arm pacer scalped two wickets in the first five overs in Mumbai as India were reduced to 16 for 3. Later in the 11th over he also took the wicket of Gill to reduce India to 39 for 4. In the second game in Visakhapatnam, Starc didn’t show any mercy to the Indian batters as he started to strike from the very first over of the match as he dismissed Gill for a duck. A few overs later, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma also lost his wicket trying to take on Starc followed by the splendid catch by the Australian skipper Steve Smith. Just a ball later.

Starc dismissed Suryakumar for his second consecutive golden duck in the same manner. He then dismissed Rahul for 9 runs, who made India win the first ODI. Starc took 4 wickets as India were reduced to 49 for 5 inside 10 overs. He then dismissed Siraj on the last ball of the 26th over to end the Indian innings on 117. India need to come up with a plan to take on Starc in the first 10 overs to prevent another top-order collapse in Chennai.

Experience in subcontinent conditions

Starc dismisses Kohli (Source - Twitter)

Starc has a pretty good record in the Asian sub-continent which can make him an asset to the Australia team for the 50-over World Cup that is scheduled to be hosted by India later this year. After recovering from the injury, he has shown great form in the ongoing ODI series against India and he will be looking to repeat his performance in Chennai to make Australia win a series in India after 2019.