Sealing off yet another series, team India were at the helm of yet another memorable performance in the ongoing ODI series against Australia. Carrying on from their rich vein of form in Kolkata, the men in blue were absolute clinical in their approach. With every passing game, this team is reminding viewers of the dominant teams of the era gone by with their ruthless aggression.
Needing 293 to chase on a belter of a track, India were powered early thanks to a superb century opening stand between Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane. After missing out in the first two games, Rohit was enthralling as he was in his groove under the evening skies of Indore. His pull off Kane Richardson while dancing down the track was undoubtedly the shot of the series, which even cleared the stadium.
But the real hero for India in the game was none other than the flamboyant Hardik Pandya. Promoted at number four, Pandya did his batting credentials no harm with a match-winning knock of 78. That was admitted by skipper Virat Kohli as well, in the post-match presentation.
Post the win, Kohli admitted that India would continue being extremely ruthless in the games to follow.
“They batted really well, but we knew that if we get two, three wickets, we could pull it back,” said Kohli, about Australia’s innings. “I was thinking this was a 330-wicket. The bowlers stood up when we wanted them to. Wrist spinners need to be backed. I felt they were 35-40 runs short. That gave us a lot of confidence.”
Praising the openers for their superb half centuries, he added:
“Rohit and Rahane were very good and then Hardik Pandya, only he can do what he does when he bats like that. He’s a star. He bowls, bats and fields as well. He is the guy we were looking for in a long time. A great asset for Indian cricket. His promotion today was Ravi Bhai’s thought. He felt we needed to attack the spinner.”
Kohli concluded by mentioning that India would surely give an opportunity to the other members of the squad in the remainder of the games.
“We may give opportunities for people from now, but all 15 guys know that we got to be ruthless once we step onto the field. I know it won’t happen every single day, but at least that mindset is there, which is great to see.”