IND vs AUS: 2nd ODI Review – Indian batters flex their muscles

India and Australia locked horns in the second ODI of the three-match series on Sunday, September 24 in what was a must-win encounter for the tourists after they lost the first ODI by five wickets. However, they succumbed in front of India’s might to lose the encounter by a hefty 99-run margin.

Steve Smith, who was captaining the side in the absence of the rested Pat Cummins, opted to field first after winning the toss in Indore. Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer stitched a 200-run partnership off just 164 balls after Ruturaj Gaikwad perished early. Shubman and Shreyas scored fluent centuries but were dismissed shortly after reaching the three-figure mark.

KL Rahul scored a fine 38-ball 52 and Ishan Kishan played a cameo of 31 off 18 balls as Australia failed to put a lid on the scoring. However, a storm was yet to come as Suryakumar Yadav, confident after a fifty in the previous game, walked out to bat at the fall of Kishan’s wicket and took the Aussie bowlers to the cleaners. The Mumbai batter remained unbeaten on 72 off 37 balls as India posted a mammoth 399/5 in 50 overs.

Australia didn’t get off to a great start as they lost Matthew Short and Steve Smith off back-to-back deliveries in the second over from Prasidh Krishna. After a rain break, Australia were given a target of 317 in 33 overs. Warner tried his best to give the visitors a platform from where they could unleash. However, his 39-ball 53-run knock was ended by Ravichandran Ashwin.

No other Australian batter could go big as they slipped to 140/8 and were staring at a huge defeat. However, Sean Abbott hit a 36-ball 54 to delay the inevitable. In the end, Australia were bowled out for 217, losing by 99 runs (DLS method).

Best batter of the match

Shreyas Iyer:

The fit-again Shreyas needed some runs under his belt and this century would surely make him feel better after going through a lot in recent months. The 28-year-old started his innings with a flurry of boundaries and didn’t let the Australian bowlers settle into their spells. He played with cramps towards the latter half of his innings and was eventually dismissed for a 90-ball 105.

Best bowler of the match

Ravichandran Ashwin:

The experienced spinner used his variations to good effect and picked up the wickets of David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, and Josh Inglis. Ashwin finished with figures of 3/41 in seven overs and was the only bowler in the match who conceded runs at less than six runs per over. What’s next for the two teams? India and Australia will collide in the inconsequential third ODI on Wednesday, September 27, in Rajkot, in what promises to be another high run-scoring affair.