India out to turn up the contrast between Rajkot and Mumbai

Perhaps such kind of thoroughbred fast bowling would be witnessed in only one game of the ongoing ODI series between India and Australia. Perhaps the Indian batsmen would be back to their dominating best in the next two ODIs. Just that in the cricketing landscape, when a batsman pits his skills and temperament against a genuine fast bowler, it tends to bring out the most dramatic chapter of the sport.

In the Wankhede ODI, with a lethal cocktail of pace and variations, the duo of Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins laid down the marker for the rest of the series. When Starc burst open Shardul Thakur with a pacy reverse swinging delivery, it certainly made for great viewing. The slow-motion replays and the dismissal viewed from various angles just added to the aura of the aforementioned delivery. Starc was ably supported by Cummins, Kane Richardson and the spinners, as the Australian bowlers put the stopper on India's scoring rate by taking wickets and bowled them out for 255.

David Warner and Aaron Finch then ruthlessly dismantled the Indian attack to condemn the hosts to a 10-wicket defeat. It was a thoroughly professional show put up by the Australian side with both the bat and ball. The pacers employed cross-seam, scrambled seam, old ball swing and the cutters to peg India back. Finch and Warner took advantage of almost every over-pitched delivery, or for the matter when the duo was offered width.

Can the visitors build on the clinical show at the Wankhede with another efficient performance in the second ODI in Rajkot? The Saurashtra Cricket Association stadium is generally known as a high-scoring ground. So, it would be interesting to see whether the Australian pacers would again look to vary their pace or tweak their tactics slightly. The Australian middle order also would be looking to make their presence felt in the second game.

What about the home side? Virat Kohli and his men would hope to completely banish the Wankhede ODI from their minds. The likes of Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul couldn't kick-on and convert starts into sizeable scores. Kohli's experiment of pushing himself down the order to number 4 also didn't work. Meanwhile, the middle and lower-order batsmen made decent contributions, but they had too much to do.

The hosts also might have to relook at their gameplan. The Indian pacers largely bowled very full with the new ball and were duly punished by the Australian batsmen. Warner in the press conference had also noted: "Fortunately tonight, I think they over-pitched a little bit to Finchy."

When: Friday, 08:00 AM GMT / 01:30 PM LOCAL

Where: Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot

What to expect: It was interesting to see a few of the Indian batsmen trying to replicate Starc's pace and angles with throw-downs. The left-arm pacer seems to have done some work with how he loads up just before he releases the ball. Even though the track in Rajkot is expected to favour the batsmen, spinners have found a bit of success in the longest format at the stadium. However, only two ODIs have been played at the stadium, with South Africa's Morne Morkel reaping rewards by employing sharp bumpers as well as the slower short ball