In the second fixture of the five-match One-day internationals, India have set a target of 253 for Australia riding on Virat Kohli’s hard-fought knock of 92 which came off 107 deliveries on a surface which seemed to be on a slower side.
The hosts India was bundled out on 252 in 50 overs following a brilliant comeback from Australian bowlers in the death overs, as Yuzvendra Chahal was the last man to go, who was found short of his crease by gloveman Matthew Wade after scoring one off two balls.
On the other side, Jasprit Bumrah remained unbeaten on ten off six deliveries. He struck two boundaries.
In the final over of the innings, Hardik Pandya, who was eyeing to score some quick runs, failed to dispatch a full-toss into the stands, as he found David Warner after scoring 20 off 26 deliveries on the bowling of Kane Richardson.
When the rain stopped the play in 48th over, Australian players were discussing in depth with the on-field umpires regarding the run-out after Richardson bowled a waist-high full-toss to Hardik who got caught by Steven Smith.
Before the rain poured down, Bhuvneshwar Kumar took off Hardik Pandya with a blow, when the former struck the ball neatly to see the latter writhing in pain, before physio rushed in to see the batsman.
The right-handed batsman Bhuvneshwar was caught by Maxwell on the bowling of Kane Richardson after scoring 20 off 33 balls.
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The left-handed batsman Kuldeep Yadav was dismissed on naught after being brilliantly caught by gloveman Wade, who dives to his left to complete a catch. He faced two deliveries.
Earlier, the ice-packs were introduced from Australian dressing room – to beat the scorching heat at the iconic Eden Gardens which further saw Kohli was livid with his batting Kedar Jadhav while running between the wickets.
The primary scorer for the Men in Blue was Kohli, who played some crisp strokes to delight over 30 thousand fans watching the enticing contest, as his innings included eight boundaries.
However, as the inside edge on the bowling of Nathan Coulter-Nile crashed onto the leg stump when Kohli attempted to guide the ball towards the third man. The crowd momentarily went into a complete hush for a brief moment when Kohli looked upset with himself.
The 28-year-old batting mainstay Kohli walked off the ground which further saw the spectators applauding his effort.
Interestingly, Kohli is a century away to go past former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting (30), in the list of One-day international hundreds, as legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar is ruling the roost with 49 centuries.
(Read Also: IND vs. AUS 2017: Team India Head Coach Ravi Shastri in Awe of Wrist Spinners)
For Australia, impressive Coulter-Nile was the pick of the bowlers alongside Richardson, as both went on to bag three wickets each.
However, Coulter-Nile gave away 51 runs in his quota of 10 overs, as he bagged a prized scalp of Kohli, who was just eight shy away from the significant hundred.
Agar was writhing in pain in the 39th over while fielding, before physio Alex Kountouris rushed in to offer some help for the struggling wrist spinner, beyond padded-up boundaries.
As Mahendra Singh Dhoni walked out to a loud cheer and standing ovation, he eventually returned after scoring on the bowling of Kane Richardson, who came at the expense of James Faulkner.
Gloveman Dhoni scored 10-ball five before he was caught by Steven Smith while diving forward to complete a low catch.
Kedar Jadhav, who scored run-a-ball 24, was caught superbly at backward point region by Glenn Maxwell when the former opted for a cut shot on a delivery which was more of a full-length. He smashed two boundaries and a maximum.
In 28th over, the right-handed Manish Pandey was undone by pace and bounce, as the ball brushed the top of the off-stump when left-arm spinner Agar was rolling over the arm.
Pandey crumbled under pressure while facing too many dot balls. He scored 13-ball three, before trudging off the ground.
Earlier, Kohli straightaway won the toss for the second consecutive time in the ongoing series to bat first, as he felt the under-light conditions are likely going to help the bowlers.
Following a slow start, opener Rohit Sharma gives a simple catch back to the bowler when India was 19 for 1 in 5.1 overs.
The right-handed batsman Rohit, who enjoyed batting at Eden Gardens in the recent past, got this time the toe-end of the willow when he opted for a drive on a full-pitched delivery of Coulter-Nile. He scored seven off 14 balls.
While coming back for a second run, Ajinkya Rahane was sent back to the pavilion when Hilton Cartwright threw the ball flatter, from the thick cover, as wicket-keeper Matthew Wade whipped off the zing bails in no time – to find Rahane well short of his crease.
The watchful right-handed batsman Rahane scored 55 runs after facing 64 deliveries. He smashed seven fours in his knock.
In the afternoon, the former Indian explosive opening batsman Virender Sehwag rang a bell which has eventually become a tradition to start off the proceedings at the Eden Gardens.