After not taking a single wicket in his first seven overs, Kuldeep Yadav took three wickets off three as India thrashed Australia by 50 runs in the second ODI at Eden Gardens to go 2-0 up in the five-match series.
Chasing a modest 253 to square the series, Australia made a disastrous start as both of their openers- Hilton Cartwright and David Warner- were back in the pavilion with only nine runs on the board. Bhuvneshwar Kumar dismissed both the batsmen and could have dismissed Travis Head too, but Rohit Sharma failed to hold onto a catch in the slips.
Head and skipper Steve Smith then steadied the ship with a 76-run stand before the former was dismissed against the run of play when he hit a full toss from Yuzvendra Chahal straight to Manish Pandey at mid-wicket. India then made further inroads into the game when MS Dhoni brilliantly stumped Glenn Maxwell off Chahal.
A 22-run stand between Smith and Marcus Stoinis calmed down the nerves in the Australian dressing room before Hardik Pandya sent back the former for 59 to all but seal the visitors’ fate. Kuldeep Yadav piled further miseries on the World Cup-holders when he took a hat-trick in his eighth over to leave them reeling at 148 for 8.
A 34-run stand between Marcus Stoinis and Nathan Coulter-Nile revived Australia’s hopes, but it soon ended when the latter offered an easy catch to Hardik Pandya. However, Stoinis still kept the visitors in the hunt with a dodgy fifty before Bhuvneshwar Kumar ended his hopes of taking Australia to an unlikely win by dismissing Kane Richardson.
Earlier, India rode on half-centuries from Ajinkya Rahane and Virat Kohli to post a challenging total on a tough track. After Rohit Sharma was out cheaply, Rahane and Kohli laid the foundation for a good total with a 102-run stand before the former was run-out for 55. However, India lost wickets in a cluster in the middle orders, and despite Kohli scoring 92, they could post only 252 in the allotted 50 overs.
Here is how Twitter reacted to the match:
Great achievement @imkuldeep18 congrats for getting a hattrick which doesn't come often #Hattrick #INDvsAUS
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) September 21, 2017
This is what Kuldeep Yadav did to Aussies.#INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/cLDVIWVpCK
— Krishna (@Atheist_Krishna) September 21, 2017
VVS and Kuldeep, A tale of two wrists at Eden Gardens. #INDvAUS
— Tracer Bullet (@ravimaestri) September 21, 2017
Eden garden + Young Indian spinner + Australia = Hattrick #IndvAus
— cricBC (@cricBC) September 21, 2017
Sorry Kuldeep Yadav, this is still the best hat-trick in cricket history!#IndvAus pic.twitter.com/TuMohyDOOO
— Saransh Gehlot (@saransh2703) September 21, 2017
No matter how hard you try, you lose. India must be feeling like Team Australia of last decade and Aussies like rest of the teams. #IndvAus
— cricBC (@cricBC) September 21, 2017
When MS Dhoni is behind the stumps, you already have half a wicket. #INDvAUS
— Rupin Kale (@Vegansportlover) September 21, 2017
https://twitter.com/Sarcasticdudee/status/910879443635154950
Close Enough. pic.twitter.com/Bakfd0gDVH
— Krishna (@Atheist_Krishna) May 21, 2017
Cheeteh Ki Chal, Baaz Ki Nazar, Bajirao Ki Talwar Aur Dhoni Ki Appeal Par Sandeh Nahi Karte. #IndvsAus #DRS
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) January 17, 2016
Rohit Sharma not scored with the bat now dropped a catch on his luckiest ground Kolkata…
— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) September 21, 2017
'Swinging' spell by Bhuvneshwar Kumar.. quality bowling! Joy to watch when he is in his element. Australia reeling #INDvAUS
— Navneet Mundhra (@navneet_mundhra) September 21, 2017
He misses to the leeefffffffffft,
He misses on the riiiiiiiiiiight,
This Hilton Cartwright,
His batting is shyte ???— Homer (@HomerOpines) September 21, 2017
Rohit Sharma once made more than this by himself at Eden Gardens! #INDvAUS
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) September 21, 2017
Smart cricket by Aussies,bowling cross seam as they entered middle overs ,paying off with some reverse in these end overs #INDvAUS
— S.Badrinath (@s_badrinath) September 21, 2017
"You can't compare Kohli with Sachin"
Kohli: Challenge accepted *Gets out in 90s*— Ra_Bies 2.0 (@Ra_Bies) September 21, 2017
Aussie players dropping like flies in Kolkata – half the team look either ill or injured
— John Etheridge (@JohnSunCricket) September 21, 2017
50 for Rahane means he continues to be the first choice…………………..replacement if either of Rohit or Dhawan get injured. #INDvAUS
— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) September 21, 2017