Amit Mishra, who's played only three ODIs so far, is likely to play against Australia © AFP Enlarge
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India have chosen the tough option for their do-or-die battle against Australia tomorrow. They will play five bowlers, and ask their depleted batting order to stand up.

MS Dhoni refused to shed further light on the final XI, but it is almost certain that Amit Mishra, the legspinner, who made an impressive Test debut against Australia last year, will play.

Dhoni didn't specify who would miss out but, reading between the lines, that man could be Yusuf Pathan. "Yusuf has loads of talent and he has been dominating at the domestic and IPL level" Dhoni said, "But he hasn't translated it at the international level. That's a worry."

There could be a couple of other changes too. RP Singh, the most profligate of the Indian pace bowlers, could make way for Praveen Kumar, whose strength lies in pitching the ball up and swinging it.

Virat Kohli, whose misadventure precipitated a middle-order wobble against Pakistan last night, is the other man unsure of his place. But he might get another chance because India's options are limited. Dinesh Karthik has international experience but is short of confidence and runs, and Abhishek Nayar, whom Dhoni described as a batting allrounder, is of unproven mettle.

Remarkably, Dhoni admitted that his bowlers had been lacking in confidence. "I would say they are short of confidence. These are talented boys who have bowled well in all conditions. Once they start clicking everything will fall in place."

Five bowlers will mean extra responsibility on India's top order, already depleted by the absence of Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh, but it is risk India have been forced to take.

"It sure gets tough with the batsmen if you play an extra bowler," Dhoni said, "but then it's one and the same thing if bowlers go for major runs. It again brings the pressure on batsmen. So in this case the batsmen will have to take the responsibility,"

Dhoni believed the wicket in Centurion tomorrow would be a fresh one. "One doesn't know how it will behave. But yes we did bowl a bit too short on that wicket. We needed to bowl full."