Rohit Sharma Returns to Lead India: Can the Men in Blue Seal the ODI Series Against Australia?

The Indian cricket team is all set to face Australia in the second ODI of the three-match series, with a mission to win and seal the series. The return of regular captain Rohit Sharma adds more firepower to the Indian batting line-up, which struggled against the pace of Mitchell Starc in the first ODI.

In the absence of Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya led the team to a five-wicket victory in the opening match at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. KL Rahul, who had been struggling for form during the Border-Gavaskar series, scored an unbeaten 75 and played a crucial role in India's victory.

The Indian team also witnessed the return of Ravindra Jadeja, who was playing ODI cricket after nearly eight months following a knee injury and subsequent surgery. Jadeja put up a brilliant all-round performance, scoring an unbeaten 45 and taking two wickets for 46 runs. He was declared the 'Player of the Match' for his outstanding performance.

The Australian team, on the other hand, will be looking to bounce back after losing the first ODI. The visitors lost six wickets for 19 runs despite having a strong batting line-up, and captain Steve Smith will be hoping for a better performance from his team. The makeshift opener Marcus Stoinis played a quickfire 81 off 65 balls, but the Australian batsmen lost their way in the middle overs.

The Indian team will be looking to practice hard and face the fierce bowling attack of the Aussies, who are known for their aggressive bowling style. The weather forecast for the second ODI predicts scattered thunderstorms, which could make the match even more unpredictable.

The Indian team will be banking on the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and KL Rahul to deliver with the bat. While Kohli and Gill's poor scores in the first ODI shouldn't be given much importance, Suryakumar Yadav's lack of form in the 50-over format is a cause for concern. However, with no timeline set for Shreyas Iyer's return, India will go ahead with Suryakumar for the No.4 role.

In the bowling department, the Indians will rely on the likes of Mohammad Shami, Mohammed Siraj, and Ravindra Jadeja to restrict the Australian batsmen. Kuldeep Yadav, who failed to make an impact in the first match, will need to step up his game to make a difference.

The second ODI promises to be an exciting encounter between two competitive sides. The Indian team will be looking to capitalize on their home advantage and Rohit Sharma's return, while the Aussies will be eager to level the series. It's going to be an intense battle, and cricket fans around the world will be eagerly watching to see who comes out on top. Can the men in blue seal the series against Australia? Only time will tell.