India Australia ODI Series

Second Match played at Rajkot on 17 January 2020

India 340/6 in 50 Overs (Shikhar Dhawan 96, KL Rahul 80, Virat Kohli 76, Rohit Sharma 44, Adam Zampa3/50,K Richardson 2/73, Starc 0/78, Cummins 0/53) beat Australia 304 All Out in 49.1 Overs ( Steve Smith,98, M Labuchagne46, Aaron Flinch 33, Mohammad Sami 3/77, Rabindra Jadeja 2/58, Saini 2/62, Kuldeep 2/65) by36 runs

Series 1-1

Player Of the Match: KL Rahul

Shell shocked Team India smarting from a disgraceful 10 wickets battering in match one, bounced back with vengeance winning the second by 32 runs. It was comprehensive team India performing at their best when at least four of their top five world class batsmen made vaunted Australian pace attack looking ordinary. Then vastly improving Indian bowling combined well to successfully barricade Australian surge.

A good game but India looked well-equipped. While the main weapons of Australia Starc and Cummins with the bowl failed to shine, blasters Warne and Flinch also failed to fire. Sizzling Smith was solely carrying Aussies on his shoulder. His wicket at crunch moment evaporated Aussie challenge. India set target of 341 proved way outside Australia. The series at 1-1 makes the last match at Banglalore a cracker.

Flamboyant Dhawan, Vintage Kohli and Rollicking Rahul combining sweetly presented to Australia Mount Everest of 340 to scale over for winning the three Matches ODI series at Rajkot yesterday.

Indian bowlers working like willing workhorse restricted Aussies to 304 runs. The series now is locked 1-1 making the deciding last match at garden city Bangalore growing as blockbuster. Australia bashed India in the first match at Mumbai with an imposing 10 wickets win on January 13. It is unbelievable how dramatically circumstances alter cases. Shocked and awed, bruised and battered Team India gloriously turned around, matched Australia in all three departments of the game. It was not unexpected that world class Indian batting would click sooner or later. But the most inspiring for Indian cricket was that all Indian bowlers bowled with purpose and fielding looked sharp and agile for a pleasant change.

Shami bowled fast and full, Bumra appeared to shrug off his rust, spinners getting run cushion bowled tight at probing length teasing Australian batting. Chasing 341 for a series win ended with a task not achieved by usual “never say die “Australia. All eyes of admiring and adoring cricket enthusiasts would now be glued to whatever media they can follow to derby at Bangalore. Two top dogs are now expected for a mouthwatering contest.

Rajkot is not a happy hunting ground for team India. In the past India lost few matches there. But back to the wall, India had no option but to redeem. How wonderfully they did. VK looked unnerved even after first match drubbing terming it only a one match reverse. A team effort of India talked answering many questions of the critics. The 1-1 state of the three matches series is now wide open. The horse that remains steady ad focused would now win the derby.

Many thought team bowling first would have some advantage as dew was expected playing a role in the second innings. Most termed toss as a key factor in deciding the fate of the match. Aaron Flinch winning the toss without a semblance of doubt put India into bat. India appeared with two changes. Injured Pant was replaced by Manish Pandey and young speed star Shaini came in place of Shardul.  Many suggested for top ranked Indian maestro Virat Kohli returning to his usual number three. He did and champion batsman kept the momentum created by Dhawan and Rohit going. Razor sharp Australian fast bowling attack of Starc, Cummins and Richardson appeared looking blunted. None but leggie Adam Zampa had any influence on Flamboyant Indian batsmen rampaging Australian attack. Amazing noting how the glorious turn around. How bowlers like Starc and Cummins can be so different to the same batsmen within a space of few days.

The wicket was easy paced, out field was fast. Indian batsmen made hay while the sun shined. Dynamic 103 runs second wicket partnership of Dhawan and Kohli set a strong foundation for team India upon which Rahul and the rest built a castle which Warner, Flinch and Smith endeavors got barricaded. Smith was looking ominous at some stage. Kuldeep cleaning him out at 98 proved the game changer the best of Australia fell short of dream destination. India returned the compliment winning the match by 36 runs. The all important last match at Bangalore is promising to be a mouth watering contest. The fast ODI series of twenty–twenty (2020) between two top dogs of world cricket has turned into bookies delight.

We 5 Aussies in the land of Eleven Gods and Billion Indians had hardly anything to cheer when India batted excepting Adam Zampa squeezing Rohit Sharma out before he could inflict much damage at 44. Rohit try to play him off his toe tripped as the struck his pad plumb in front. Well set Shikhar Dhawan was on a mission. He was in punishing mood. Virat getting back to his favored number three spot was in his true free flowing mode. When these two bat at tandem at business as usual opposition bowling looks ordinary. It was hard believing watching Cummins, Starc and co struggle.

While Dhawan’s aggression was usual arrogance, Kohli’s innings was sheer elegance.  It was a different, different wicket, different ambience. Two champion batsmen set aptly laid the foundation of Indian innings. Many argue that the Indian team has relatively weak early and late middle order against quality bowling attack. Perhaps Indian think tank also thought about that while letting Kohli bat at four in match one. But more than that thought it was perhaps an experiment slotting three openers Rohit, Shikhar and Rahul at one, two and three.

On the day pushing Rahul at number five worked. Not sure experimenting talented youngster Sresh Iyer at four is the right strategy. India has so many options. On the day when all top guns fired failure of Sresh did not cause any impact. But for sustainability perhaps India requires Rahane or Rahul batting at four behind three top guns. Shikhar and Kohli got out while pressing paddle deeper and departure for while looked like Australia coming back into the contest. But Rahul batting steadily kept the momentum going. His 80 runs, a blend of grace of elegance let India reaching a very challenging 340/6.

In match one, Bumrah and Sami looked rusty. They could not castle all guns blazing Warner and Flinch. Yesterday right from the start Indian bowlers bowled at right length and line making the Aussie chase extremely challenging. Destructive Warner could be sent back early by Sami. Flinch and Smith (also returning at number three) kept the chase moving alone steadying the rocking boat. But Flinch failing to repeat his first match aggression left all to Smith. Labuschagne is still fresh in world cricket. His feet are still not firm in all formats. Still the third wicket partnership was growing steadily till India struck gold removing Labuschagne and Smith in quick Succession. A 96 runs third wicket partnership between Smith and Labuschagne kept Australia in the hunt. But Labuschagne and Smith departure at crunch moment acted as the turning point.

This Australian team does not bat deep. Against quality bowling they do not have the right weapon or arsenal for chasing big target. Carey and the rest were soon blown away by fast and furious Sami bowling full and accurate, Jadeja tricking with turn, Kuldeep deceiving with carefully controlled flight. Australia could reach as far as 304 India squared the series 1-1 making the fight of two top dogs bookies delight.

India has far better balanced attack while Australia requires a quality 5th bowler who can cleverly exploit Indian condition. Aston Ager is the not the quality to challenge the might of Indian batting. Perhaps an all rounder like Glen Maxwell is missing.

In Cricket every morning does not show the day.

BDST: 1840 HRS, JAN 18, 2020

AH/SMS