3rd ODI: Virat Kohli wins toss, opts to field against Australia in series decider

Indian skipper Virat Kohli won the toss and opted to bowl in the decider ODI against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday.

Earlier, incessant rain delayed the start of the third and final ODI on Friday. 

India are eyeing a maiden bilateral ODI series triumph on Australian soil after the path-breaking Test conquest.

The three-match series is level at 1-1 after Australia won the first ODI in Sydney by 34 runs and India clinched the second in Adelaide by six wickets. 

Speaking after the toss, Kohli said, " It's going to be stop-start, with the rain around, and as a batsman we are never in, so that's the idea. Levelling the series was important, now both the teams are set up for the decider. Siraj makes way for Vijay Shankar, Chahal for Kuldeep, Jadhav for Rayudu."

When asked what strategy will Australia adopt for the series decider, skipper Aaron Finch said, "There might be a touch of moisture but it's still a good surface. It might be slow to start with, but it won't change too much during the course of the game. I think It's been an exciting couple of weeks, a great win in Sydney and a really good game in Adelaide. We're ready to go for the series decider. I do hope to just get back to my natural game to be honest. Changes: Stanlake in for Behrendorff and Zampa in for Lyon."

India have never won a bilateral ODI contest on Australian soil, and their only two series' wins in this format have come in 1985 (World Championship of Cricket) and 2008 (CB Series). 

Teams:

Australia (Playing XI): Alex Carey(w), Aaron Finch(c), Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Billy Stanlake, Peter Siddle, Adam Zampa

India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli(c), MS Dhoni(w), Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Vijay Shankar, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal