India vs Australia 2019, 1st ODI, Hyderabad
Virat Kohli. Image Courtesy: Getty

Twin fifties from MS Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav have helped India win the Hyderabad ODI against Australia by six wickets. The pair added 141 runs for the fifth wicket to guide the hosts to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. Earlier, each of Bumrah, Kuldeep and Shami picked two wickets; Jadhav starred with the ball too – getting Marcus Stoinis. Meanwhile, the India captain, Virat Kohli was left delighted with the win. At the post-match presentation, he shared his thoughts.

Shami, Kuldeep shine for India

Initially, Australia captain, Aaron Finch won the toss, and they elected to bat first. For India, they made a few changes – bringing in Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Shami. The Bengal pacer began the proceedings with a maiden. Jasprit Bumrah, India’s premier pace bowler, in his first over, gave the hosts a breakthrough in the name of struggling Finch.

Later, Marcus Stoinis and Usman Khawaja added 87 runs for the second wicket – before India staged a comeback, reducing them to 133 for four. In the meantime, Kuldeep Yadav took two wickets.

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India vs Australia 2019, 1st ODI, Hyderabad
Mohammed Shami took two wickets in the first ODI against Australia. Image Courtesy: Getty

Later, Mohammed Shami produced a couple of wicket-taking deliveries – getting rid of Ashton Turner and Glenn Maxwell. Though India would have thought of picking up more wickets, a fifty-plus partnership between Nathan Coulter-Nile and Alex Carey saw the Aussies scoring 236 for seven in 50 overs.

Dhoni-Jadhav guide India home in tense-chase

237 had to be the walk in the park for the Indians; however, it wasn’t. Coulter-Nile gave the visitors an early breakthrough – picking up Shikhar Dhawan off the first ball. The celebrations didn’t last for long, as the pair of Rohit Sharma and Kohli added 76 runs for the second wicket.

Virat Kohli, the aggressive of the two batsmen, was looking to reach his fifty when Zampa trapped him in front of the wicket on 44. Rohit and Rayudu soon followed as India was reeling at 99 for four at that stage. Meanwhile, what happened later kept India in the hunt for the win.

MS Dhoni, Kedar Jadhav
Jadhav scored an unbeaten 81 off 87 balls in the first ODI in Hyderabad. Image Courtesy: Getty

The duo of MS Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav, who in the past had bailed out India from dire situations took the onus on them. Both Dhoni and Jadhav kept rotating strike, and whenever they got a loose delivery, they didn’t shy from hitting it for a boundary. Though MS had arrived early at the crease, Jadhav completed his fifty, first. It was about time, as MSD also reached his fifty.

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Here is what Virat Kohli said at the post-match presentation –

“It was a difficult sort of a game. We did a good job with the ball. You have experience with MS and flair with Kedar. I think Kedar and MS took responsibility, it was great. Ten overs for less than 35 is a great job on this pitch. He set his fields on his game. He was all geared up that ‘I want to finish the game.’ Kuldeep’s been doing it for a while. I have never seen him (Shami) so lean. Got Maxi out with a beautiful ball. Heading into the WC, it’s a great sign for India.”

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