Emotions will run high at the Sydney Cricket Ground today as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma prepare for what could be their final appearance on Australian soil in the 3rd ODI. Australia skipper Mitch Marsh won the toss and decided to bat first on the day. For Kohli, the series has been one to forget after back-to-back ducks, while Rohit showed glimpses of form with a fighting 73 in the second ODI. With India trailing 0-2, pride and redemption will be at stake as Gautam Gambhir’s men look to avoid a whitewash. Check IND vs AUS 3rd ODI LIVE SCORE UPDATES and full scorecard here
The visitors are likely to rethink their team balance, possibly including Prasidh Krishna to strengthen the pace attack. Kuldeep Yadav’s omission has drawn criticism, especially with the spinners Axar Patel and Washington Sundar troubling the hosts in Adelaide. Axar’s all-round progress remains a bright spot in an otherwise dull campaign.
Australia, meanwhile, have impressed with fresh faces like Matthew Short, Cooper Connolly, and Mitchell Owen, who have adapted well to pressure. With Travis Head seeking runs and the spin duo of Kuhnemann and Zampa in form, the hosts will aim to complete a commanding series sweep at the SCG.
India vs Australia 3rd ODI: Sydney Cricket Ground pitch report
Pitch Report from Sydney courtesy of Parthiv Patel and Shane Watson: "The one thing you know about this square, it is rock hard, and this pitch is really hard. When the pitch is hard, there'll be a few cracks here in SCG. You can see there are cracks running down, vertically down the track, so the quicks will be looking at this, trying to line a few up. And there is some green live grass as well, so that means with these two brand new balls, there should be a little bit of movement. But the one thing about SCG is that the ball goes through nicely, so there's a lot of value for your shots here, which makes it a high-sporting ground. Historically, it's a high-scoring ground. The ball goes through really well. This could be the best batting pitch of the series so far. We are in for a very good contest today."
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India vs Australia: Head-to-head stats in ODIs in Sydney
At the Sydney Cricket Ground, India have played 25 ODI matches vs Australia, out of which they have won just four, while ending up on the losing side in 20 matches. One match ended with no result.
Recent ODI match at Sydney Stadium
The last men’s ODI match at Sydney Stadium was played on February 4, 2024, between Australia and West Indies. Australia batted first and put up a challenging total of 258 for 9 on the board. West Indies in reply were bundled out for just 175 as the Aussies walked away with a comfortable 83-run victory. Sean Abbott, for his 69-run innings with the bat and a 3-wicket spell with the ball, was named player of the match.
Sydney Stadium Key ODI stats
A total of 168 One-Day Internationals have been played at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), making it one of the most historic ODI venues in world cricket. Teams batting first have generally had the upper hand here, winning 96 matches, while sides chasing have emerged victorious in 64 games. The average first-innings score at the SCG is 224, compared to an average of 189 in the second innings, suggesting that the pitch tends to slow down and favour bowlers as the match progresses.
The SCG has hosted some remarkable performances over the decades. The highest ODI total at the venue is 408 for 5 by South Africa against the West Indies, a testament to the ground’s batting potential on good days. On the other hand, the lowest total recorded is 63 all out by India against Australia, highlighting how challenging conditions can be for batters when the ball moves around. The highest successful run chase at the SCG came when Australia overhauled England’s 334 for 8, while the lowest score successfully defended stands at 101 for 9 by Australia against the West Indies in a 30-over contest.
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