IND vs AUSRahul, Jadeja and Shami star as India win 8th successive ODI to take 1-0 series lead

By Rajarshi GuptaKL Rahul produced a match-winning 75-run unbeaten knock to help India gun down a 189-run target in a low-scoring first ODI against Australia at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on Friday. Rahul (75*) and Ravindra Jadeja (45*) stitched an unbeaten 108-run stand for the sixth wicket to ensure that India completed their 8th successive ODI win after the top-order crumbled in Mumbai. With this 5-wicket win, India have also taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series against Australia under the able leadership of Hardik Pandya.

Notably, India were in deep trouble early in their chase. Ishan Kishan (3), Virat Kohli (4), Suryakumar Yadav (0) and Shubman Gill (20) were dismissed by the 11th over as India slipped to 39 for 4. Mitchell Starc was breathing fire and when he dismissed Kohli, he went past Mitchell Johnson to be ranked 4th in Australia’s list for most international wickets.

INDIA vs AUSTRALIA; 1st ODI HIGHLIGHTS

It was a poor account from the Indian top-order on a pitch that had some help for the seamers. Gill has been in outstanding form this year and looked good in patches during his short knock, but played a careless shot to give Starc his third wicket of the match. The Australian left-arm pacer had also seen off Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav with some incisive bowling to leave India reeling.

Ishan Kishan, who was playing only because Rohit Sharma had some family commitments, flopped again, falling to Marcus Stoinis. He had scored a record-breaking double-century in an ODI in Bangladesh last year but since then, Kishan has had a horror run of form. It was a great chance for Kishan to keep himself in the reckoning but he blew it with a poor score and then a poorer decision to review a plumb LBW.

KL Rahul, who was dropped after the first two Tests in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, joined forces with captain Hardik Pandya and the pair added 44 runs in 8 overs to give India some kind of stability after the early losses. Both men looked to punish the loose balls and were happy to take their time in a low-scoring game. However, Hardik Pandya fell to an excellent bouncer from Marcus Stoinis and top-edged the delivery to Cameron Green at deep backward square leg.

Ravindra Jadeja, who walked in to bat at No.7 when India were 83 for 5 in 19.2 overs, joined hands with KL Rahul and the star duo weathered the early storm to put India in control of the 189-run chase in the first ODI. Rahul changed his gears after completing his 13th ODI fifty off 73 deliveries. Rahul collected 17 runs off Adam Zampa’s sixth over to bring the hosts within touching distance of their eighth successive victory in ODIs.

Hardik Pandya, leading India in an ODI for the first time, won the toss and decided to bowl. Australia had happy memories from their last ODI at the Wankhede Stadium in January 2020, winning the game by 10 wickets thanks to hundreds from David Warner and Aaron Finch.

On Friday, David Warner wasn’t fit enough to play while Aaron Finch, who has retired from international cricket, shifted to commentary duties. In the middle, it was mayhem for Australia.

Travis Head was the first Aussie wicket to fall, playing onto a Mohammed Siraj delivery for 5 in the second over. Mitchell Marsh and Steve Smith gave the visitors some hope with a 72-run partnership for the second wicket but Hardik Pandya broke what at that stage looked like a dangerous stand taking shape.

KL Rahul took a brilliant catch after Steve Smith edged a Pandya delivery, perishing for a 30-ball 22. Marnus Labuschagne had a forgettable tour of India and did not look comfortable in the middle in the Mumbai ODI after a poor showing in the Test series. Labuschagne seemed happy to play second fiddle to Mitchell Marsh, who looked sublime.

Mitchell Marsh got to his half-century rapidly and took a particular liking to Kuldeep Yadav. A century was for the taking for the Australian opener but he wasted the opportunity – Ravindra Jadeja was bold enough to toss one up but Marsh only managed a thick outside edge as Mohammed Siraj completed an easy catch.

That was the start of a dramatic Australian collapse. From 129 for 3 in 19.4 overs, the Aussies were bowled out for 188 in 35.4 overs. Mohammed Shami was the pick of the Indian bowlers, taking 3 for 17 off 6 overs. He was almost unplayable and got rid of Josh Inglis, Cameron Green and Marcus Stoinis in his second spell of 3 overs. It was brilliant bowling and as Shami later revealed, he stuck to his plans on what he felt was a good surface to bat on.

Ravindra Jadeja also had a good day with the ball, picking 2 for 46 off his 9 overs while Kuldeep Yadav chipped in with 1 wicket.