India vs Australia ODI: How India’s top-order fared at Perth?

It was not the ideal start for India at Perth on Sunday as the top four fell cheaply before a clinical Australian bowling attack. Both Rohit Sharma (8 off 14) and Virat Kohli (0 off 8) failed on their much-anticipated return to international cricket.

 

Rohit played a sumptuous straight drive off Mitchell Starc, a quick time ride back to the glory days. But that was that for the day for him, as Josh Hazlewood's ability to find steep bounce from the quarter length ended his tenure. He was caught by debutant Matthew Renshaw at second slip. It was a drive on the up off the left-arm pacer took the edge of his bat that brought an end to Kohli's agonising eight-ball innings.

 

It was not just the two veterans who failed to deliver for India during the rain-soaked encounter. Rohit's opening partner and captain Shubman Gill was gone for 10 off 18 balls while Shreyas Iyer was gone for 11 off 24. It was Axar Patel's (31 off 38) and KL Rahul's (38 off 31) contributions that helped India crawl out of a difficult position and reach a respectable total.

 

Left-handed Axar managed three boundaries while wicket-keeper batter Rahul got a couple of sixes and fours.

India: Fall of Wickets: 13-1 (Rohit Sharma, 3.4), 21-2 (Virat Kohli, 6.1), 25-3 (Shubman Gill, 8.1), 45-4 (Shreyas Iyer, 13.2), 84-5 (Axar Patel, 19.6), 115-6 (Washington Sundar, 23.3), 121-7 (KL Rahul, 24.3), 123-8 (Harshit Rana, 24.6), 124-9 (Arshdeep Singh, 25.2)

India vs Australia: As it happened during Indian innings

 

Australia understandably chose to bowl first under grey skies, and the extra bounce on the Optus Stadium pitch also assisted them copiously.

 

India found their wheels moving through the 39-run fifth-wicket alliance between Axar Patel (31) and Rahul before the former fell to spinner Matthew Kuhnemann. Rahul was quite impressive in his knock, dealing with the bounce getting over the ball nicely. The straight drive and pull off Ellis off successive balls for fours were an absolute treat. 

 

Rahul slipped into overdrive once spinners were introduced, and slammed Matthew Short for two successive sixes. The right-hander and Washington Sundar added 30 runs for the sixth wicket but the limited number of overs affected India's acceleration in the backend. 

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