Ahead of Australia’s tour to India for two T20I and five ODIs, none of the Indian fans would’ve even dreamt that the men in blue will find it difficult to win even three games out of those seven. After losing the T20I series 2-0, India lost the ODI series as well by a 2-3 margin despite the fact that they were 2-0 up in the series after the first two ODIs. They lost the series decider at the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi by 35 runs.
After losing the Mohali ODI against Australia, Team India was in a desperate need of the win as the series is leveled at 2-2 after the fourth ODI. The series-decider is currently being played at Delhi. After winning the toss, the Australian skipper, Aaron Finch decided to bat first and even the Indian skipper, Virat Kohli wanted to do the same. However, now the hosts needed 273 runs to seal the series but they got bundled out for 237 runs.
However, India made some surprising changes in the squad as KL Rahul and Yuzvendra Chahal were replied by Jadeja and Mohammed Shami. On the other hand, Australia replaced Shaun Marsh and Jason Behrendroff with Marcus Stoinis and Nathan Lyon.
WATCH – Kohli and Jadeja Burst Into Laughter In Middle Of The Match
Australia had a decent start to their innings as they were standing at 76 without loss after the 14-over mark. However, after that Finch’s dismissal, Peter Handscomb (52) and Usman Khawaja (100) again started to build a partnership which was broken in the 33rd over, but only after latter scoring his 2nd ODI century and he got the man of the match award and man of the series award as well for scoring 383 runs in the series with the help of two fifties and two centuries.
At one point the Aussies were badly struggling with the tally of 230/7 in the 46 overs but they managed to reach 272/9 in their quota of 50 overs. For India, Bhuvi was the pick of the bowlers as finished the game with the figures of 3/48 in his quota of 10 overs.
Coming into the chase, India lost Shikhar Dhawan (12) early in the innings, after that, Kohli (20) and Rohit Sharma (56) added 53 runs for the second wicket, but after Virat’s dismissal, they lost wickets in regular intervals as from 68/2 in 13 overs the men in blue were reeling at 132/6 after 29 over with Rohit and Ravindra Jadeja getting dismissed at the same score.
WATCH – Unlucky Dismissal For Pat Cummins In Delhi
However, Rishabh Pant has come under criticism from fans and experts earlier as well over his shot selection, especially at crunch moments in limited-over series and the fans were disheartened with his show in Delhi either. This was his final chance in an international game to get picked for India’s World Cup squad and it seems that he has lost it.
However, after Jaddu dismissal, Kedar Jadhav (44) and Bhuvneshwar (46) added 91 runs for the seventh wicket, but it wasn’t to take India over the line as both of them got out on back-to-back deliveries and after that, the game was nothing but over for the Indians. For Australia, Pant Cummins was the pick of the bowlers as he finished the game with a tally of 2/38 in his quota of 10 overs.
It has been Australia’s first ever series win in India after 2009 and for India, it has been first ODI Series loss at home After 2015 against any opposition.
Brief scores:
Australia272 for 9 (Khawaja 100, Handscomb 52, Bhuvneshwar 3-48) beat India237 (Rohit 56, Zampa 3-46) by 35 runs
Here’s how Twitter reacted after India’s loss:
On evidence of Mohali and Dehi ODIs alone, both keeping and batting, Rishabh Pant doesn’t get into my World Cup squad. #IndvAus
— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) March 13, 2019
Hopefully this loss won’t effect the confidence of the Indian team and by the time World Cup arrives team would have sorted middle order positions.Well done Australia for winning the series #IndvsAus
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) March 13, 2019
Looks to me like the Aussies might be just getting something going at the right time …. #CWC19 !!!
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 13, 2019
One word… Without Kohli(100% performance) we can't dream of World Cup 2019.. #INDvAUS
— anup mahapatra❗ (@am_i_anup) March 13, 2019
It is a wonderful achievement by Australia to come back from 0-2 down to win a series. The two teams started from either end of the results spectrum, India on a high and Australia in the dumps, and Australia gained more from this series.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 13, 2019
🔹First ODI series defeat at home under Kohli
🔹First series defeat for India at home since 2016
🔹First series win for Australia in ODIs in two years
🔹First time India have lost three consecutive ODIs under Kohli's captaincy#INDvAUS https://t.co/VrsTufGkOu— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) March 13, 2019
India now becomes the only side to lose an ODI series (of five or more matches) on two occasions after leading 2-0#IndvAus
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) March 13, 2019
The inconsistency of openers in this series has thoroughly exposed the batting frailty of India. Not just no.4, India also suffers from a long tail. Kuldeep, Chahal, Bumrah, Shami cannot be trusted to even score 20 runs. Should Bhuvi play ahead of Shami or all 5 must be in XI?
— Navneet Mundhra (@navneet_mundhra) March 13, 2019
Well won @CricketAus! Showed immense character and skills to come from being 2-0 down and take the series 3-2. Doesn't matter who India played. A series win to remember for long. Well played!
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) March 13, 2019
Congrats Aus for winning both T20 & ODI series. Particularly the latter after losing first two matches — a quite remarkable turnaround 👏👏
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) March 13, 2019
Usman Khawaja – 383 runs in five ODIs at 76.60. Strike-rate 88.86.
Pat Cummins – 14 wickets in five ODIs at 15.71. Economy rate: 4.64
Who would be your Man of the Series? Khawaja might be the popular choice, but I'd go with Cummins. #INDvAUS
— Saurabh Somani (@saurabh_42) March 13, 2019
Aust win an ODI series from 0-2 down for first time ever. Aust win an ODI series in India for first time since 2009. Aust win an ODI series for first time since January 2017 #IndvAus
— Daniel Brettig (@danbrettig) March 13, 2019
This is also India's first ODI series defeat at home under the leadership of Virat Kohli. #INDvsAUS
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) March 13, 2019
#And they said there will be Rishabh Pant after Dhoni. #INDvAUS
— KAUSHAL🇮🇳 (@kaushal_agrawal) March 13, 2019
When u think #RishabhPant is going to be today's match winner he plays the silly shot. Can't remember any sustained match winning scores of Mr. Pant 🙁
— K (@vkumar2463) March 13, 2019
We have seen enough of Rishabh Pant and he doesn't deserve a place in the World Cup squad. Another glorious opportunity thrown away. This could have been his ticket. #INDvAUS
— Rajdeep Saha (@Journalist_RD) March 13, 2019
@BCCI enough with Rishabh Pant. He’s not ready for the ODI World Cup neither with the gloves nor with the bat. Take the experienced DK with Dhoni, better keeper, calm batsman. Team India needs experienced head in the team. Pant doesn’t deserve this time.
— Vineet Chhabra (@bruce_not_wayne) March 13, 2019
@BCCI Rishabh Pant is still a work in progress. MS Dhoni would've been a handful in this chase. But you decided to drop him in the name of "rest" when he's managed to win an away series vs Australia and the first ODI at home vs Australia. #INDvAUS
— Hazardous (@hazardddftw) March 13, 2019
India Needs Dinesh Karthik In Place Of Rishabh Pant!!#INDvAUS
— SyEd aLi RiZvI (علي) (@Azaan_Rizvi_) March 13, 2019
