Australia has finally managed to register their first win in the ongoing five-match ODI series against India. They have won the third ODI at the JSCA Stadium in Ranchi by 32 runs. Despite the fact that the Indian skipper, Virat Kohli amassed 123 runs off just 95 deliveries India failed to chase down the target of 314 in MS Dhoni’s hometown as they were bundled out for 281.
Kohli registered his 41st ODI century with the help of 16 fours and a six, but it wasn’t enough to defeat Australia in Ranchi. Apart from him none of the Indian batsmen failed to make a mark apart from some small contributions from MS Dhoni (26), Kedar Jadhav (26), Vijay Shankar (32), and Ravindra Jadeja (24).
India was struggling at struggling at 27/3 when Dhoni came out to bat, but he also failed to take the hosts over the line at his home town. Before Kohli’s dismissal in the 38th over, India was looking good to chase the total down as they were struggling at 218/5, but after his dismissal, Shankar and Jadeja showed some positives signs but after Vijay’s wicket in the 43rd over, it was nothing but over for India.
WATCH – MS Dhoni Gets A Humongous Reception At His Hometown
Earlier in the game, Australia had a decent start to the game as their openers, Finch (93) and Usman Khawaja (104) stitched 193 runs for the opening wicket. However, Finch was dismissed by Kuldeep Yadav in the 32nd of the inning and Khawaja was dismissed by Mohammed Shami in the 39th over as Jasprit Bumrah took an easy catch at the short-mid-wicket.
When Finch and Khawaja were playing it was looking like the Aussies will easily reach the total of 350+ in their quota of 50 overs, but the Indian bowlers did a decent job in the slog overs and restricted the Aussies.
In the 42nd over of the game, Ravindra Jadeja pulled off a brilliant fielding display in the 42nd over bowled by Kuldeep Yadav when the Aussies were cruising at the score of 258/2 before Glenn Maxwell’s dismissal, who had to go back to the pavilion as the result of the brilliance of MS Dhoni and Jadeja on the field. However, it was a bad day at the field for the Indian players as a lot of misfields took place.
WATCH – Brilliance Of Jadeja And Dhoni Sends Back Maxwell
Then came the 44th over of the Kuldeep Yadav which pulled down the Aussies even more as he dismissed Shaun Marsh and Pete Handscomb in the same over. Then, Marcus Stonis and Alex Carey took the Australian innings to the final over as they reached 313/5.
During the toss, in an attempt to pay respect to the martyred CRPF personnel in the cowardly Pulwama terror attack, Kohli was seen wearing a special camouflage cap and said that the entire team will wear the special military caps in Ranchi as a tribute to the fallen CRPF men. According to reports, the move has been suggested by none other than Lt. Col. MS Dhoni (he’s with the Territorial Army) and skipper Kohli.
Brief Scores:
Australia 313/5 (U Khawaja 104, K Yadav 3-64) beat India 281 (V Kohli 123, J Richardson 3/37 ) by 32 runs
Here is how Twitterati reacted after India’s performance:
Dhawan-Rohit partnership – just one fifty and one hundred stand in last 17 ODIs
Not sure about you, but I think this should be a worry.
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) March 8, 2019
500 ODI runs for Virat Kohli in 2019 and we are just in the first week of March! #IndvAus
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) March 8, 2019
Virat Kohli has ticked past 4,000 ODI runs as India captain, reaching the mark in 63 innings, the fewest for that nation. #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/7CrJ3SmB1S
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) March 8, 2019
Virat Kohli will have 60+ batting average in ODI cricket after this game irrespective of whatever he scores.
He has now batted 217 innings; the highest number of innings after which a player had 60+ ODI batting average. Previous: 109 innings by Michael Bevan. #INDvAUS
— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) March 8, 2019
Anther day, another Virat Kohli masterclass in chase.
This is his 9th hundred in ODIs while chasing a target in excess of 300. No other batsman has even 5 such centuries. In every inns Kohli comes to the crease as if he achieved nothing in the inns before. #KingKohli #GOAT
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) March 8, 2019
Sixth century while chasing against Australia for Kohli – the most by any batsman against an opposition in ODIs. #IndvAus
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) March 8, 2019
Another 100 to Kohli, but I think Australia will get the victory tonight
— Mitchell Johnson (@MitchJohnson398) March 8, 2019
It isn’t this easy. It isn’t a joke, but this man has made it a joke.
41st for King Kohli. #IndvAus— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) March 8, 2019
He's scoring centuries for fun. He has 40 in the bag and then he produces a memorable 41st. What a time to be watching cricket. The Kohli Era.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 8, 2019
Kohli become the first cricketer to score a 100 in a camouflage cap. There was a point to this exercise after all.#IndvAus
— cricBC (@cricBC) March 8, 2019
41st ODI century:
Sachin Tendulkar – 369 innings
Virat Kohli – 217 inningsIn his last 11 ODI innings at home, Virat Kohli has scored a century in seven of them including today. #INDvAUS
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) March 8, 2019
The 🐐 is at it again … #Virat
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 8, 2019
It's unbelievable how this man sets taller benchmarks innings after innings. Whether we win or lose doesn't matter. The winner for me was the fiery passion shown by @imVkohli. #Virat #Kohli #INDvsAUS3rdODI
— Pranav Adani (@PranavAdani) March 8, 2019
Someone tell Dhawan that experiment of testing the middle order is now over.
— Akki (@CrickPotato1) March 8, 2019
Rayadu at number 4 for the World Cup is still something for the selectors to think about. There are other contenders to be considered. Dhawan is causing concern too.
— Vikram Chandra (@vikramchandra) March 8, 2019
#INDvAUS
Shikhar Dhawan to his form : pic.twitter.com/3YmyC6nQco— Kamran Ashar🇮🇳 (@Im_Ashar10) March 8, 2019
