Indian top order is the best going around in the world at the moment. Star-studded top-three of India features Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who have led India to several victories on their own. Thus, India’s middle order has never been put under pressure. And whenever they were asked questions, they failed to answer them.
However, the same was not the case on a fine Saturday evening, when Australian bowlers sent Indian top order back and put pressure on the middle order. And boy, they shut all the talks about their failures and took India home in the first of match ODI series against Australia in Hyderabad.
Also Read: Dhoni and Jadhav took India over the line in first ODI
Chasing 237, India looked in a spot of bother at 99/4 with all top four were back in the hut. Though, Indian skipper Virat Kohli was not bothered by this scorecard as he sensed this as an opportunity for the middle order to show their metal.
Speaking at the end of the game, Kohli revealed how he told head coach Ravi Shastri that 99 for 4 ‘is good’ before expressing his delight over Dhoni and Jadhav’s performance.
“It was a difficult sort of a game. We did a good job with the ball. The wicket didn’t offer as much as it did under the lights, which was surprising. You have experience with MS and flair with Kedar who is also experienced now. That partnership was outstanding and it was more or less a complete performance. That set the platform,” Kohli said in the post-match presentation.
Also Read: Ravi Shastri breaks his silence over Indo-Pak WC clash controversy
“At 99 for 3 (India were four down), I was speaking to Ravi [Shastri] bhai, and I said this is good. These guys have to do it and they have to get us across the line. The way Kedar and MS took responsibility, it was great to see,” he added.
India won the first One-Day International by six wickets with the help of timely half-centuries from Kedar Jadhav (81*) and MS Dhoni (59*) in 48.2 overs. Earlier, Indian bowlers, led by Mohammad Shami, didn’t allow breathing space to Aussie batsmen and reduced their innings to 236/7.
The second ODI will be played in Nagpur’s Vidarbha Cricket Association this Tuesday.
