4 Big Takeaways For India From ODI Series Against Australia

4 Big Takeaways For India From ODI Series Against Australia; Team India spectacularly ended the home season on Sunday at Bengaluru. They comfortably thrashed Aaron Finch-led side to seal the 3-match ODI series. After being knocked down in Wankhede, the Virat Kohli-led side showed their calibre in a remaining couple of games to pocket the series.

Apart from clinching the trophy, the Indian team have witnessed quite a few positive aspects in the 3-match series. Players have utilised the opportunity to perfection to make things fall in place for the team and their respective careers. Highlighting the same, we have figured out four big takeaways for India from the series. Have a look:

4. Shikhar Dhawan’s form:

The stylish southpaw was under the pump ahead of the series against Australia. Following the exit from World Cup with an injury, Shikhar Dhawan has never been on the headlines for positive news. KL Rahul’s rise in his absence further stretched his troubles to cement his position in the playing XI.

He was even criticised for his slow batting in the shorter format of the game against Sri Lanka. However, he took Australia Series by a storm. Shikhar Dhawan was the top-scorer and the only player to cross half-century mark in the first ODI loss at Wankhede Stadium.

Dhawan followed it up with a blistering 96-run knock in the second ODI when the team scored 340 runs on the board. He was the man of the series candidate but unfortunately, he sustained an injury in the final ODI game, which saw him stay away from his willow. All in all, he was a big takeaway for India, as Shikhar Dhawan has always been a scintillating performer for India.

3. KL Rahul’s wicket-keeping Work:

Since that magnanimous domestic stint, Rahul hasn’t literally put a foot wrong and has relished in whatever role the team-management has asked of the opener.

And, it has been on full show in the three-match ODI series between India and Australia. Not only the charismatic Indian batsman has chipped in with crucial contributions with the bat but he also earned plaudits for his wicket-keeping skills in the absence of regular keeper Rishabh Pant.

He was involved in 4 catches and 1 stumping, which reminded the Great MS Dhoni for the fans. With the ICC World Cup 2020 on its way, KL Rahul’s wicket-keeping role might help the Indian team management to have different combinations in the playing XI. Especially, the team can include two all-rounders in the playing XI.

2. Death Bowling:

Yet another major highlight for India was the bowling in death overs. Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami combined to do well for the team alongside Navdeep Saini, who picked a few important wickets in the final ten overs.

In the final ODI played on Sunday, Australia couldn’t capitalise on the strong platform, set up by a third-wicket partnership of 127 between Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, and ended up with 286/9 — a below-par score at the Chinnaswamy surface which India chased down comfortably with seven wickets in hand.

Australia lost five wickets in the last 10 overs and the regular strikes from the Indian bowlers meant that the last three overs yielded just 13 runs to restrict the visitors below 300.

Part of the reason for Australia not being able to accelerate towards the end was the accuracy of the Indian pacers — Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah and Navdeep Saini – who bowled stream of yorkers and didn’t provide any room to the batters, both in Rajkot and in Bengaluru. Ahead of the crucial tour to New Zealand, the performance of bowlers in the death overs is a positive sign for the team.

1. KL Rahul’s Flexibility To Bat At Any Position:

The Karnataka batsman KL Rahul is the major takeaway from the series. The flamboyant batsman had delivered the goods with the bat in whatever position he was asked to bat. In the first game, he played at number 3 while in the second ODI, he played at number 5, replacing Rishabh Pant as wicket-keeper. In the final game, he once again opened the innings, with Shikhar Dhawan picking up an injury to his shoulder.

The knock he played at Rajkot was a moment to remember for him and the fans. Getting off the mark of his 2nd ball, Rahul then went on to unleash a flurry of boundaries (6 fours, 3 sixes) in a whirlwind 52-ball-80. He got run-out only in the last over of the innings while going for a suicidal double.

Rahul looked so fluent during his 52-ball stay that a run-out was possibly the only mode of dismissal to get him out of the crease. While India were going at around 6 runs per over before Rahul’s arrival, his explosive innings took the hosts into the fifth gear as India finished with a mammoth 340/6 at the end of their 50 overs. Clearly, Rahul had played his finisher’s role to perfection. His flexibility will be a major asset for the team in the upcoming series in New Zealand.