All eyes on Kohli, Rohit as India wrap up tour at SCG

As late at 6 pm on Friday night, there were still Indian fans loitering outside the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) hoping to catch a sight of their favourite players. They weren't prepared to budge either, despite the insistence of the security staff that there was to be no practice session. And there was to be no glimpse of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma or any of the other Indian superstars on the eve of the third ODI.

To the fans' credit, it is rare for a visiting team to not get enough time to slot a nets session before an ODI. In any era for that matter. But that's just a sign of the packed schedule for India on this nearly three-week long tour of Australia. In a way, it's less of an issue now that the series has already been sealed. But you do wonder how this rapid transition from Adelaide to Sydney would have played out if indeed the series was locked at 1-1 with all to play for at the SCG on Saturday.

With that not the case, there's not much to play for really with this match except for pride and also the understandable focus there will be on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. As has been the case throughout the last week or so. With extra focus on Kohli as he plays his final international match on Australian soil in all likelihood. A fact now further established by his reactions after he was dismissed for a second consecutive zero in Adelaide.

Because it's India, there's still a bit of a buzz even for this dead rubber, with the only incentive really for Australia who are looking for their first-ever clean-sweep against the Indians in an ODI series.

What to expect: It promises to be a lovely spring afternoon in Sydney with temperatures still in the lower 20s. Expect to see most of the players in their jumpers, even during the day. The pitch at the SCG should somewhat play similar to what we got in Adelaide, which should mean that there will be runs on offer for both batting units.

There's every chance that the Australians ring in a few changes to their playing XI. Though the expectation would be for either Mitch Starc or Josh Hazlewood, if not both, to be rested, there might be some logic in them playing two ODIs in the space of three days as part of their conditioning for the Ashes Test summer, which is around the corner. With Jack Edwards having been brought into the squad and the game to be played in his backyard, it's quite possible the youngster gets his first break in international cricket.

India are unlikely to be able to stick to the same playing XI across all three ODIs, especially after the rate at which their fast bowlers were going down with cramps in Adelaide. Prasidh Krishna is in line for a recall, while the enigmatic Kuldeep Yadav continues to wait his chance with Dhruv Jurel also in with a running to get a look-in, more as a specialist batter.

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