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Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli put up an unbeaten stand of 168 off 170 balls (PTI Photo)
A vintage partnership between Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli helped Shubman Gill notch up his first win as India’s ODI captain in their third ODI against Australia. The series was already lost, with Australia taking it 2-1 in the end, but Rohit scoring a century and Kohli staying unbeaten 74 off 81 after getting out on duck in the previous two matches bodes well for Gill and Co, with most of the questions swirling around the Indian team being around the two veterans.
“They’ve been doing it for so many years. It’s such a delight to watch them both bat and especially when they both finish the innings,” said Gill in the post-match presentation ceremony.
A big part of India’s nine-wicket win, however, was their effort with the ball as they bundled Australia out for just 236 runs. Australia were off to a good start with a 61-run opening sand between captain Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head. However, India pulled it back in the middle overs with spinners Washington Sundar, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav bringing the run rate crashing down. Harshit Rana then dismantled the Australian middle order and swept things up as well, finishing with figures of 4/39.
‘Pleasing to see the way Harshit Rana went about it’
“We almost had a near-perfect game.They got off to a good start, but I think the way we pulled it back in the middle overs and then the way Harshit went about, it was pretty pleasing to see. (Pleased with) How how our spinners came in in the middle overs and then the fast bowlers came in and took those crucial wickets. Harshit has been someone who’s been coming in and bowling fast for us in the middle overs. On such wickets, you need someone like him,” said Gill.
Rohit finished with a score of 121 in 125 balls, his 33rd ODI century. His partnership with Kohli was unbeaten on 168 off 170 balls. While it was a welcome return to form for Kohli, Rohit ended up winning player of the series in what was his first outing since he was replaced by Gill as ODI captain. He had scored a half-century in the second ODI and finished the series with 202 runs in three matches. Kohli, meanwhile, became the second highest run scorer of all time in ODI history over the course of the innings on Saturday.
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