It is the last ODI series for India ahead of the World Cup, and the second last for Australia. So you expect the series to be dominated by the talks of the impending event and how the teams are going to settle their combinations for the showpiece extravaganza. This game proved that the teams are not thinking of anything else as India picked Ravindra Jadeja in place of Yuzvendra Chahal while Australia jettisoned Jhye Richardson for Jason Behrendorff and Ashton Turner was handed his debut.

Let’s look at the situation of India first. With MS Dhoni, Kedar Jadhav, Hardik Pandya taking on the No. 5, 6, and 7 positions respectively in the World Cup playing XI, one of Jadhav and Pandya could easily complement the other four bowlers. However, the question that arises is who could be the second proper spin option alongside Kuldeep Yadav? With the rain in the air for most parts of English summer, can India afford to have two wrist-spinners in the team? 

Australia also did their fair share of experiment with the team as they have included Jason Behrendorff despite Richardson doing well against India in their last tour back home. Under ideal circumstances, Australia will go with Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, but Kane Richardson’s injury brought up the fact that who would be the fourth bowling option. While Jhye Richardson has already been tested in the ODIs, Behrendorff was brought into the team to offer the variety of the left-arm-kind, which means replacing an injury-prone Starc wouldn’t be a big problem lest the situation arises.

The moment it seemed like India have already settled with their team combination for the World Cup opener, Mohammed Shami has disturbed it with some impressive performances in the last nine matches. If India go with the combination of two pacers, and one among Vijay Shankar and Hardik Pandya, with Kedar Jadhav, then would they settle with one among Shami or Bhuvneshwar Kumar for the role of Bumrah’s bowling partner. 

If the wicket has enough moisture in it, then Bhuvneshwar can be an option to exploit that in England, but India won’t be placed at a bad position if they start with Shami instead as he provides the cushion of those three overs between 25th to 40th over when the team jostles for wickets.

Maxwell is not well-built like Gayle nor does he have a lot of muscle power like MS Dhoni or a Kevin Pietersen and to cover that side, he uses his quick hands which allows him to generate great bat speed. There's no substitute for hitting the ball hard once it gets old and the field spreads and Maxwell does that brilliantly when the ball hold the line or lands on the half-volley. India served him on a platter today.