Feroz Shah Kotla stadium is all set to witness a thriller of a contest. Men In Blue will have to quickly put behind a massive bowling failure, sloppy fielding and tactical mistakes to tame a resurgent Australia in the series-deciding fifth ODI on Wednesday.

The cricketing world has applauded India’s current bowling attack as one of its most potent but the failure to defend a mammoth total in Mohali came as a reality check for it.

Kohli and the Indian team definitely missed the calming presence of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, whose understanding of game situations has been helpful in pressure situations.Instead, Australia were able to claw back to level pegging with Ashton Turner’s Mohali pyrotechnics.

That effort also vaulted the team – led by Aaron Finch and coached by Justin Langer into legitimate World Cup-contender status on the basis that they had finally uncorked the kind of scoring power required to match not only India but also the tournament hosts England.

Of course there are a few complications to this, not least that Turner was only substituting for Marcus Stoinis, even as room will somehow have to be found for at least David Warner and perhaps also Steven Smith in the World Cup XI.

Peter Handscomb and Usman Khawaja have made good strides on their call-ups to the ODI sides, while Finch and Shaun Marsh are both looking shaky.

The hosts can heave a sigh of relief with Shikhar Dhawan striking form. The Delhi left-hander managed to silence critics who had been after him due to a prolonged lean patch.

Going by history, the surface should be ideal for wrist spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal as the slow bowlers have done well in the previous games.

The top and middle-order is largely settled and Wednesday’s game will be one last chance for Pant, Shankar, KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja to do something special and prove their worth.

Jadeja may figure in the playing XI, considering that his left-arm spin on the Kotla wicket would be effective.