Australia clinched a thrilling two-wicket victory over India in the second ODI at the Adelaide Oval on October 23, thereby sealing the three-match series 2-0 with one game still to play. The loss highlighted that India’s present XI has not been working as expected and that some of the tactical calls taken during the series have been risky without substantial gain.
With a short turnaround before the Sydney ODI and a long T20I calendar lined up — including five T20Is against Australia and a white-ball tour of South Africa — workload and squad depth will have to be handled sensibly. In this context, India may consider tweaking their combination for the final ODI. Listed below are three potential changes that the team management might evaluate ahead of the third match.
# Prasidh Krishna In Place Of Harshit Rana
Harshit Rana has been backed by the team management and his skill in raw pace makes him a valuable long-term option. However, in Adelaide he faded after a promising opening burst. During his second spell he repeatedly erred in line and length, bowling leg-side short balls and off-cutters that Australia treated with ease.
His economy crossed seven an over, and cramps further disrupted his rhythm. Since he is also part of the upcoming T20I squad, giving him rest in Sydney could help protect his body and confidence. Prasidh Krishna, who has not featured so far in the tour, is an experienced ODI seamer capable of hitting the deck, staying consistent, and offering bounce — traits that could challenge the Australian batting.
# Prasidh Krishna Instead Of Arshdeep Singh
If India are inclined to persist with Rana to build his exposure, they may instead decide to rest Arshdeep Singh. The left-arm quick has arguably been India’s best fast bowler in the series but he too struggled with cramps in Adelaide.
Arshdeep holds a crucial place in India’s T20 setup with a cluster of matches approaching and the T20 World Cup due next year. To manage his workload and keep him fresh for the more heavily weighted format, he might be rotated out for the Sydney match. Prasidh would again be the natural replacement to share the new ball duties.
# Kuldeep Yadav For Washington Sundar
Washington Sundar is a useful cricketer but his present batting output at No. 7 does not tilt contests consistently, and his presence at No. 8 would matter only if the bowling upgrade at that spot was marginal. However, replacing him with Kuldeep Yadav would significantly enhance India’s wicket-taking ability in the middle overs.
Kuldeep has been in top form over the past year, leading the charts in the 2025 Asia Cup and winning Player of the Match awards in red-ball cricket as well. While Sundar has been tidy, Kuldeep is a proven match-winner across formats and conditions. The pitch in Sydney traditionally helps slower bowlers, making this swap appear straightforward for the final ODI.
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