The decider of the seven match ODI series is a bonus for the fans here who are already basking in the glow of the four day long Diwali festivities - which began with the 'Rajyotsava Day' on Friday. India fought their way back to make the last match the decider after a stupendous run-chase in Nagpur. And another runfeast is on cards at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium and the weekend crowd will be eager to witness the home team clinch the series.
Australia have been a revelation under an interim captain George Bailey and will be up for the challenge on Saturday. No total has been safe in the series which has been dominated by the batsmen. The statistics are mind-boggling. Of the nine completed innings, seven have thrown up totals in excess of 300 with four crossing the 350-mark.
The series has seen the second and third highest ODI chases ever and that too in the span of just one match - leaving out the two abandoned matches in Ranchi and Cuttack. Batsmen have slammed seven centuries and 15 half-centuries. A whopping 69 sixes and 285 fours have been hit. It is better not to dwell on the corresponding bowling figures.
Saturday's contest is expected to follow the trend of high-scoring encounters. India will enjoy a bit of a psychological edge after producing astonishing batting spectacles in the two matches. Also, with Australia's main strike bowler Mitchell Johnson returning home to prepare for the Ashes, India can breathe easy.
The left-handed Johnson has been the most successful bowler in the series claiming seven wickets and was able to maintain an economy of below six on deadpan pitches. Adam Voges, too, is a doubtful starter with a sore back. Australia, therefore, for the first time in the series will have to change the playing XI. Australian vice-captain Brad Haddin, however, said they had the cover for Johnson.
"We've got guys like Nathan Coulter-Nile and Moises Henriques who have been on the sideline for the entire tour. They are ready to go," said Haddin.
India, too, had an injury worry in Ravindra Jadeja - nursing a shoulder strain. But he trained with the team on Friday and Virat Kohli confirmed there were no fitness issues in the team.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli (right) play football in Bangalore on Friday
India have fielded different bowling combinations, but nothing has worked in the face of fierce batting assault. In Nagpur with the wicket being a tad slower they went in with three spinners - including leg-spinner Amit Mishra in place of R. Vinay Kumar - but that did not deter Australian batsmen who have tackled the slow bowlers with some exceptional hitting.
It will be important for India to get rid of Bailey who has been in rich vein of form. The Australian batting has revolved around him and it is no surprise that he has emerged the top-scorer in the series with 474 runs.
With the bowlers still reeling under the year-old rule changes, India's fate lies in the hands of their formidable batsmen and the team will be hoping for one final encore from them.
Australia have been a revelation under an interim captain George Bailey and will be up for the challenge on Saturday. No total has been safe in the series which has been dominated by the batsmen. The statistics are mind-boggling. Of the nine completed innings, seven have thrown up totals in excess of 300 with four crossing the 350-mark.
The series has seen the second and third highest ODI chases ever and that too in the span of just one match - leaving out the two abandoned matches in Ranchi and Cuttack. Batsmen have slammed seven centuries and 15 half-centuries. A whopping 69 sixes and 285 fours have been hit. It is better not to dwell on the corresponding bowling figures.
Saturday's contest is expected to follow the trend of high-scoring encounters. India will enjoy a bit of a psychological edge after producing astonishing batting spectacles in the two matches. Also, with Australia's main strike bowler Mitchell Johnson returning home to prepare for the Ashes, India can breathe easy.
The left-handed Johnson has been the most successful bowler in the series claiming seven wickets and was able to maintain an economy of below six on deadpan pitches. Adam Voges, too, is a doubtful starter with a sore back. Australia, therefore, for the first time in the series will have to change the playing XI. Australian vice-captain Brad Haddin, however, said they had the cover for Johnson.
"We've got guys like Nathan Coulter-Nile and Moises Henriques who have been on the sideline for the entire tour. They are ready to go," said Haddin.
India, too, had an injury worry in Ravindra Jadeja - nursing a shoulder strain. But he trained with the team on Friday and Virat Kohli confirmed there were no fitness issues in the team.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli (right) play football in Bangalore on Friday
India have fielded different bowling combinations, but nothing has worked in the face of fierce batting assault. In Nagpur with the wicket being a tad slower they went in with three spinners - including leg-spinner Amit Mishra in place of R. Vinay Kumar - but that did not deter Australian batsmen who have tackled the slow bowlers with some exceptional hitting.
It will be important for India to get rid of Bailey who has been in rich vein of form. The Australian batting has revolved around him and it is no surprise that he has emerged the top-scorer in the series with 474 runs.
With the bowlers still reeling under the year-old rule changes, India's fate lies in the hands of their formidable batsmen and the team will be hoping for one final encore from them.
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