When the five-match One-Day International series between India and Australia got kicked off in Hyderabad, there were two teams at the different ends of the same thread. India, who is being ranked as favorite to lift the World Cup, was against Australia, whose chances to defend their crown in England were being said quite dim.
India started the series on a high note and made early inroads to be 2-0 up in the series. But Australia made one of the most remarkable comebacks of the recent history and defeated India in the remaining three games. After conceding the Ranchi and Mohali ODI, India couldn’t stop the Australian force and lost the series in Delhi.
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Australia made 272/9 in their quota of 50 overs. Usman Khawaja was a chief contributor with his second century of the series along with Peter Handscomb, who backed his Mohali ton with fifty in Delhi. The 22-yard surface of Feroz Shah Kotla was on the slower side and spinners were getting the assistance from the pitch.
Meanwhile, Team India was missing the services of their regular wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who was rested for the last two matches of this series. This move by the team management proved costly as Australia outplayed India in the last two games. Former Aussie skipper Michael Clarke lauded the importance of Dhoni’s, which makes India’s batting order strong.
Never underestimate the importance of MSD- experience in the middle order is so important https://t.co/hcUcGZeIIh
— Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) March 13, 2019
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On Twitter, Clarke replied to question, asked by a fan, raising concern over the lack of quality batsmen of Yuvraj Singh’s stature, who helped India lift the World Cup in 2011. Clarke replied saying “Never underestimate the importance of MSD – experience in the middle order is so important.”
Chasing 273, India looked never in control throughout their innings as they lost six wickets on 132 runs. It was Kedar Jadhav and Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s seventh-wicket partnership, which took India close but it was never enough to cross the line. India got bundled out for 237 and lost the match by 35 runs. Australia came victorious in the series by 3-2. And the questions over India’s fragile middle-order still remain unanswered.
