The third ODI between India and Australia will be played at the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi. The series is tied at one game apiece, with the Aussies having won the first game at Baroda, and India equalising in Nagpur.

If one combines the injury woes that the Australian side has suffered in the last couple of weeks, with the nature of the track that the two teams will play on, India will go into the game as favourites (8/11 at Sky Bet to win the game). The Kotla track has already proved to be a difficult proposition to bat on, and if the Aussies are not able to play their premier bowler, Brett Lee (thanks to his elbow injury), then there may not be too many takers for the 6/5 offered by 888Sport for their win.

Sachin Tendulkar (7/2 at 888Sport to top the Indian batting) hasn’t had a good start to the series, but discounting him will be something that the Aussies will do at their own peril. In fact, it was on a very Kotla-like wicket at Colombo that Tendulkar had recently dazzled the crowds with a knock of 138. Gautam Gambhir (4/1 at Coral to top-score the Indian innings) has already smashed a couple of half centuries in the series, whereas Virender Sehwag (7/2 at Sky Bet to be the best Indian batsman) will love to bat against the new ball on this track more than any other pitch given that it becomes progressively more difficult to bat here.

Yuvraj Singh had looked good in his comeback innings till he lasted, but it is rather difficult to visualise him scoring a big one here. Slow pitches have usually not been his forte and so the 5/1 offer by Coral for him to top-score in the innings is not as tempting as it may seem.

For the Aussies, Tim Paine’s injury means that Shane Watson (4/1 at Bet Fred to be the best Australian batsman) will have a new opener in Shaun Marsh (9/2 at Sky Bet to top the batting). Ricky Ponting’s early dismissal notwithstanding, his form has been good and will be the opposition’s biggest thorn, while Michael Hussey (5/1 at Coral to top Australia’s innings) will love a scrap on this track.

Amongst the top-order, only Cameron White has had the experience of playing at the Kotla in the recent times – during the Champions League T20 – and that will afford him a good chance to adjust his game to this slow and low playing wicket. An offer of 8/1 at Boylesports for him to top the batting seems irresistible to me.

Tips:
Favourites: Team batting first. India (8/11 at Sky Bet)
Top Indian batsman: Sachin Tendulkar (7/2 at 888Sport)
Top Australian batsman: Cameron White (8/1 at Boylesports)