Team India lost the series decider against Australia by 21 runs and conceded the three-match ODI assignment 2-1. Australia fought back after being 203/7 with the bat and added 66 runs for the last three wickets. India’s failure to contain the tailenders had a telling effect on the result as even though Indian batters got starts, apart from Virat Kohli, none really kicked on to get a big score. Chasing 270, skipper Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill gave India a fast start, but both got out after scoring 30-odd.
While Rohit smashed a 17-ball 30, Gill scored 37 runs and played some delightful strokes, especially against Mitchell Starc, who tormented the hosts in the second ODI in Vizag. After a six over deep mid-wicket in the third over of the innings, Starc creamed a couple of stylish boundaries in the fifth over of the innings. He first played a short-arm jab towards mid-on and then played a backfoot punch towards the covers. The second shot, especially had several admirers including skipper Rohit and his predecessor Kohli.
Kohli in the dugout jumped out of his seat giving him a standing ovation while Rohit too was stunned by Gill’s shot through the off-side as he nodded his head while egging him on to keep going during the glove punch.
Gill, however, couldn’t continue his show for long as Adam Zampa dismissed him for 37. Apart from Kohli’s 54, all-rounder Hardik Pandya got a run-a-ball 40 and KL Rahul too scored 32 runs but a lack of partnerships hurt the hosts and eventually they folded for 248 runs. This was India’s first home ODI series loss in four years, since 2019 and the first in Rohit Sharma’s leadership. The Indian team will hope that it is a reality check and that they can improve in the coming series after the IPL, in the lead-up to the World Cup.
