The script did not unfold as planned at Bangalore’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Thursday (September 27) in the 4th ODI of the ongoing India vs. Australia 2017 series. Virat Kohli needed just one more win to break his predecessor MS Dhoni’s record of leading India to 9-consecutive wins in One-Day Internationals. Moreover, a win would have also cemented India’s number one spot in the 50-over format.
However, Australia had some other plans as they not only stopped India’s juggernaut but also registered its first overseas win in the 50-over format in 14 attempts and avoided the possibility of a whitewash. Batting first, the world champions, led by David Warner’s 124 and Aaron Finch’s 94, posted a mammoth 334 for 5 in the allotted 50 overs. In reply, India gave a spirited fightback and was looking well on course to overhaul the mammoth total after racing away to 135 for 1. However, Rohit Sharma’s run-out against the run of play turned the match towards the visitors as the hosts were eventually restricted to 313 for 8.
But while the upcoming fifth ODI, scheduled to be played on Sunday (October 1), does not hold any importance as far as the outcome of the series is concerned, it is an important clash for the Men in Blue. A victory in the upcoming game will see them reclaim the number one spot in ODI rankings which they lost after losing the fourth match.
And with so much at stake, the players are making sure to prepare for the game in a dedicated way as they sweated it out in the practise session at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, the venue for the last match.
Posting several pictures of the players during the session, BCCI’s Twitter handle tweeted: “Ahead of the fifth & final #INDvAUS ODI, #TeamIndia went through a rigorous training session at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur.”
Ahead of the fifth & final #INDvAUS ODI, #TeamIndia went through a rigorous training session at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur pic.twitter.com/tnGbv18TeN
— BCCI (@BCCI) September 30, 2017
Meanwhile, the five-match ODI series will be followed by a three-match T20I series.