Bengaluru, January 19: Rohit Sharma slammed his 29th ODI century while skipper Virat Kohli missed out on a well-deserved century to guide Team India crushed Australia by seven wickets in the third and deciding one-day international at M Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Sunday (January 19).
Rohit (119) and Kohli (89) stitched a 132-run stand for the second wicket as the duo made the run chase of 287 look ridiculously easy with 15 balls to spare. Shreyas Iyer (44* off 35 deliveries) and Manish Pandey (8* off 4) finished the game for the hosts in style as they clinched the series 2-1.
Indians were pushed to the wall after getting hammered by 10 wickets in the opening game in Mumbai but they came back roaring and won the remaining two games and thus claimed the series.
Earlier in the day, Aussie skipper Aaron Finch won the toss and elected to bat first but Indian bowlers kept things tight from the start and despite Steve Smith's heroic knock of 131 off 132 deliveries, the visitors could only manage to post 286/9 in stipulated 50 overs. Marnus Labuschagne (54) slammed his career's maiden ODI fifty but that too went in vain.
Mohammad Shami, Japrit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja emerged as the pick of the bowlers for the hosts in the series decider. While Shami returned with a four-for despite being costly, Bumrah and Jadeja were at their economical best.
Here's how the 3rd ODI between India and Australia panned out in Bengaluru:
Virat Kohli, the winning captain and Man of the Series: We're quite experienced, Rohit and I, and we were short of Shikhar. We got a good start, it was a tricky situation when KL got out as it was a tricky situation. All Australia want are wickets. Rohit played beautifully today before I took over. It's important to make sure one guy continues to bat till the end and takes us over the line. It's important to practice in the nets, but it's important to be okay mentally and press forward. I'm not worried about the short ball and trust my technique to take over. You need to have a clear and uncluttered mind. Australia were even better than last time. There's Steve David and Marnus. Coming back and winning the last two games after losing the first one, is very satisfying. Getting one back given that we lost the series at home last year is really satisfying.
🇮🇳🇮🇳#TeamIndia 💙 pic.twitter.com/IQmm5Vrf8I
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 19, 2020
Aaron Finch: The wicket started to spin quite a bit. The quicks started sliding on a little bit at the end. If we had 310ish, then our spinners could put some pressure in the middle. Again, we just keep losing one wicket too many at every stage of the game. Our momentum gets stalled, but it's a great learning curve to play against the best in the world in their conditions. Agar bowled great lines and length, and he's always on the stumps, so the batsman has to take risks of the good balls. You bowling at world-class players, but I thought we'd pitch a few overs of part-time spin, but that wasn't to be.
Shreyas Iyer: Obviously I have seen them bowling, but coming and playing against them is different. To be honest, as many matches I have played, they have been the best bowling attack. Performing against the best bowling attack gives you the satisfaction and confidence that you can go play anywhere. I had decided to stay till the end, take every blow as they decided to attack my body. I had my plans and executed it well. They were trying to get into my head and wanted me to go over the top, but I said to myself that I will communicate with Virat and he told me to get set. I know if I am set I can play the big shots. So, the nudging and knocking helped me get into the innings.
Great win boys! 💪#INDvAUS
— Ajinkya Rahane (@ajinkyarahane88) January 19, 2020
Virat Kohli wins the Player of the Series award for his back-to-back fifties and taking some sensational catches in the series.
Congratulations team india what a performance 💪.. great bowling @MdShami11 and apna Shana @ImRo45 what a knock champion.. top inn @imVkohli 👍 pic.twitter.com/RVEdMESl99
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) January 19, 2020
Ravi Shastri, India Coach: The boys showed there great character. The reason, I say the character is because after the thrashing in Mumbai, to have the belief that they can do it and do it two games in a row with one day travel is an outstanding achievement. Once they got off to a start, they (Rohit-Virat) realised they are up against a team that is always looking for wickets. So the way both batted with a lot of responsibility. The way Shreyas finished will do him a world of good. If sides are planning to take us apart in the last ten overs and then there could be a surprise. We have a lot of variety. The good old yorker. The game might be 130 years old, but that is still the best ball in one-day cricket. I don't care who the batsman is. If you execute properly, you are going to get him. The exposure the young players they get playing against an opponent like this will stand them in good stead. The next time they play any opposition, the entire mindset will be different for them. Saini is rapid. If he gets it right, he will tickle a few. Really proud of the guys.
Brilliant batting by @ImRo45 & @imVkohli & some excellent bowling by @MdShami11. The grit #TeamIndia showed to come back to win the series after losing the 1st game was just amazing to see.
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) January 19, 2020
Congratulations on the series win against a very good Aussie team. #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/STsew7VzVu
Rohit Sharma gets man of the match for his match-winning 119.
Last three India - Aus bilateral ODI series: 2019, Australia: India lose 1st ODI, win series 2-1 | 2019, India: Australia lose fist two ODIs, win series 3-2 | 2020, India: India lose 1st ODI, win series 2-1.
Virat Kohli surpassed MS Dhoni
Most runs by Indians as captain in int'l cricket:
— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) January 19, 2020
11208 Virat Kohli (199 innings, avg 66.71)
11207 MS Dhoni (330 innings, avg 46.89)
8095 M Azharuddin (230 innings, avg 40.88)
7665 Sourav Ganguly (218 innings, avg 38.32)#INDvAUS
Brilliant series win for the MEN IN BLUE!
Fantastic series win for India, among best ODI contests I have seen. After the debacle at Mumbai feared Australia might make a clean sweep. India fought back marvellously, showing gr8 skill, ambition and character. Congrats @imVkohli, @RaviShastriOfc & Team
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) January 19, 2020
Done & Dusted!! Manish Pandey hits the winning boundary as India hammer Australia by 7 wickets in 3rd ODI at M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Hosts claim series 2-1.
Champions 🇮🇳#INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/168H5qeSSa
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 19, 2020
Four! Manish Pandey hits brilliant shot down the ground
Aussies let down by main pace bowlers Cummins and Starc. Rare to see both flop together
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) January 19, 2020
6 runs came from that Starc over India reach 280/3 in 47 overs.
Four! Brilliant one-handed shot from Shreyas Iyer over covers.
Wicket! This is anti-climactic!! Virat Kohli is clean bowled for 89 by Josh Hazlewood. The skipper departs after playing a captain's knock. India - 274/3 in 45.5 overs.
SIX! Shreyas Iyer hammers Starc over long-on for a maximum.
Four, Four! Back-to-back boundaries from Shreyas Iyer against Josh Hazlewood. India reach 246/2 after 43 overs.
India reach 235/2 after 42 overs. They require 52 runs off 48 balls. It is going to be a tight game in the end.
It’s not over till it’s over. Kohli has to bat through...
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) January 19, 2020
Four! Brilliant cover drive from Shreyas Iyer off Mitchell Starc, fielder gives a chase to the ball but fails.
India reach 227/2 after 41 overs. They need 60 more runs to win off 54 balls.
Rohit Sharma's has had a tremendous turnaround after being made to open innings for India.
Throwback to when Rohit Sharma became a regular opener for India 🏏
— ICC (@ICC) January 19, 2020
Before this tweet: 88 ODIs, 2065 runs, average of 30.82
After this tweet: 136 ODIs, 7050 runs, average of 59.74#INDvAUS | @ImRo45 https://t.co/9QUj5o0U1B
7000 Runs for Virat Kohli in ODIs while chasing.
Wicket! Rohit Sharma attempts a slog sweep but gets a top-edge. Mitchell Starc takes a simple running catch. Zampa breaks the century stand. India - 206/2 in 36.4 overs.
200 up for India in 36th over. India reach 205/1 after 36 overs, they need 82 runs to win.
Four & Fifty!! Back-to-back half-centuries from Virat Kohli.
India reach 188/1 after 34 overs. They need 99 more runs to win this game.
Watch Rohit's sixes!
Three MAXIMUMS!
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 19, 2020
We love them all. Which one's your pick?
Full video 📽️https://t.co/90k6RZvkji #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/4C0Q6jZF8g
Hitman creates a record of SIXes as well.
Since Rohit Sharma's international debut on 23 June 2007
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) January 19, 2020
Most ODI sixes
Rohit Sharma 243*
Chris Gayle 242
in all international matches:
Rohit Sharma 415*
Chris Gayle 413#IndvAus #IndvsAus
100-run stand between Kohli and Rohit.
Most 100+ partnerships in ODIs: 26 Sachin Tendulkar - Sourav Ganguly 20 Tillakaratne Dilshan - Kumar Sangakkara 18 Rohit Sharma - Virat Kohli
Most ODI centuries: 49 - Sachin Tendulkar (IND) 43 - Virat Kohli (IND) 30 - Ricky Ponting (AUS) 29 - Rohit Sharma (IND) 28 - Sanath Jayasuriya (SL) 27 - Hashim Amla (RSA)
Most ODI centuries against Australia: 9 - Sachin Tendulkar 8 - Virat Kohli & Rohit Sharma
💯!! ROHIT SHARMA SLAMS HIS 29TH ODI CENTURY. This is the first century from an Indian in 2020.
My gosh, Rohit Sharma tearing it up again; 100 out of 154🤭.
— Ian bishop (@irbishi) January 19, 2020