Steve Smith, the Australian captain, showcased why he is one of the safest pairs of hands in the ongoing second ODI between India and Australia being played at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam on March 19, 2023.
Australia won the toss and decided to bowl first in order to even the series after losing the first ODI, which was contested in Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. Josh Inglis was replaced by Alex Carey, and Nathan Ellis took Glenn Maxwell’s spot in the starting lineup after the all-rounder pulled up sore.
Axar Patel replaced Shardul Thakur for India, and Ishan Kishan was replaced by skipper Rohit Sharma, who was returning to the team after missing the first ODI in Mumbai due to personal obligations.
Mitchell Starc, once again, rattled the Indian batting lineup as he removed Shubman Gill for a two-ball duck in the first over itself. He then came back to dismiss India captain Rohit Sharma for 15 runs, caught by Steve Smith in the slips and on the next ball, had Suryakumar Yadav LBW, handing him his second consecutive golden duck.
Hardik Pandya Dismissed For 1 Run Thanks To An Amazing Diving Catch By Steve Smith
Last match’s hero for India, KL Rahul looked solid in his short stay, but once again the inswinging full delivery by Mitchell Starc proved to be too much for Rahul, who was adjudged LBW. This was contested by Rahul via DRS, but the review came in favor of Starc.
Much depended on the lower order to stay with Virat Kohli, who was striking the ball brilliantly, and Hardik Pandya, the vie-captain joined him. Pandya has been a bit lukewarm in ODIs with the bat, despite his brilliant captaincy. He had played a good knock, added a 50-plus partnership with KL Rahul in the first ODI.
But this time, Sean Abbott got Pandya to edge one delivery to slips, where Steve Smith the lone fielder dived full length to catch the ball one-handed to end the India vice-captain’s knock for 1 runs in 3 balls.
Check out the video here:
— javed ansari (@javedan00643948) March 19, 2023