Under the overcast conditions in Brisbane, India will play the second ODI, which will be a Day-Night encounter, against Australia. Even after Rohit Sharma’s magnum opus India lost the first ODI by five wickets. India lost a match due to the failure of bowlers and captain Dhoni’s gamble with Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin at bouncy WACA pitch.
India got a competitive score on the board but Indian pacers did not get a single wicket except debutante Barinder Sran’s three wickets haul.
During Australia’s chase, Jadeja and Ashwin conceded 129 runs in 18 overs. Meanwhile, captain Dhoni field placement was not aggressive as a result Smith and Bailey stole many singles in the process as Indian fielders failed to block them.
Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar said if India doesn’t block singles; Steve Smith is going to score more runs.
With a lead of 1-0 in the five matches one-day international series, hosts Australia will be the most confident side when they take on India in the second ODI at Gabba, Brisbane, on Friday.
Visitor India has been wounded by a hard hitting defeat in the series opener despite putting up a big total on board, will have to tighten the screws in bowling as Australian all-rounder James Faulkner already indicated that the second ODI will be run fest like the Perth ODI. So, it will be difficult for India to bounce back in the series.
India in the last ODI opting to bat first piled up a mammoth 309 for 3 with Rohit Sharma scoring an unbeaten 171 from 163 balls and Virat Kohli scored 91 runs to a 207 run second wicket partnership.
But, Australia captain Steve Smith and George Bailey built a 242 runs partnership and won India the match. Except debutant pacer Barinder Sran, who took three wickets for 56 runs, none of the Indian bowlers proved effective on a lifeless pitch, resulting in a complete mockery at the hands of Smith and Bailey.
Both Australian and India bowlers of this series are strong. But Australia did not allow Indian batsmen to rotate the strike in the slog overs. On the other hand, India fielders failed to stop Smith and Bailey from rotating the strike after the fall two quick wickets.
Talking about bowling captain MS Dhoni’s decision to bring Umesh Yadav after power play and rest him after a short spell was not a good decision as in the absence of Umesh Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli conceded important runs.
Weather: It is a Day night match. There is a chance of rain during the match. So, D/L method may play a role in the match.
India XI: 1. R. Sharma 2. S. Dhawan 3. V. Kohli 4. A. Rahane 5. M. Pandey 6. MS Dhoni (c ) 7. R. Ashwin 8. I. Sharma 9. U. Yadav 10. B. Sran 11. R Jadeja
Australia XI: Finch, Marsh, Smith, Bailey, Maxwell, Wade, Faulkner, Kane Richardson, Paris, Hastings, Boland.