The veteran Indian opener, Shikhar Dhawan played a match-winning knock of 96 runs in just 90 balls to help India level the series by winning the second ODI by 36 runs over Australia at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot on Friday. Opening the batting with Rohit Sharma, the left-hander set the perfect platform for KL Rahul’s assault later in the innings that powered the hosts to post a total of 340/6.
Australia got bundled out for 304 in 49.1 overs as India drew level at 1-1 in the three-match series. Despite not being in the playing XI, Yuzvendra Chahal has been a constant presence all thanks to his post-match interviews on Chahal TV. However, he was missing from action on Friday with Dhawan taking over his duties. Not only did the opener do a great job with his guest KL Rahul, but he also came up with a hilarious reason for Chahal’s absence.
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Describing Chahal’s absence, Dhawan said, “You all must be wondering where Chahal is? Finally, he has gone to fix his teeth after many years of us trying to get him to do that. That is why neither him nor his teeth can be seen.”
WATCH: @SDhawan25 takes over Chahal TV as he recaps #TeamIndia’s win with @klrahul11 😎 – by @28anand #INDvAUS
Full video here 📽️👉 https://t.co/YX9p4YiQ4X pic.twitter.com/DSvRON1ez8
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 18, 2020
On a more serious note, Dhawan showered praises for Rahul, who smashed 80 off just 52 balls for his brilliant knock despite batting at No.5 and asked him about his thought process. Rahul said, “It helps that I have been scoring runs in the previous series in the last month. Playing at No.3 or No.5 as an opener is a different challenge but I was ready for it. Today it came off and a lot of credit goes to you guys and the start you guys gave and the way Virat (Kohli) kept going on.”
Dhawan also took a dig ta Rishabh Pant as Rahul affected a brilliant stumping to dismiss Aaron Finch. He said that Rahul’s keeping must’ve given a wake-up call to Pant.
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During the chase, Steve Smith scored a brilliant 98 and got support from Marnus Labuschagne’s 46-run knock, but Australia never managed to get in the commanding position and eventually fell well short. Mohammed Shami took three wickets while Navdeep Saini, Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja took two wickets apiece. Jasprit Bumrah took one wicket but was the most economical bowler of the match, giving away just 32 runs off his 9.1 overs.
The third and final ODI of the series will be played at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday.
