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ToggleFormer India batsman Mohammad Kaif seems to have taken a sly at Virat Kohli’s captaincy during the ongoing first ODI against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Playing their first international match since March, the Men in Blue looked completely off colour with the ball as Australia piled up a mammoth total of 374 for 6.
Aaron Finch’s decision to bat first turned out to be a good one. The skipper led from the front and scored a century to lay the foundation for the big total. Finch and Warner gave Australia a solid start by adding 156 runs for the first wicket. Mohammed Shami broke the stand by dismissing Warner for 69.
The skipper leading from the front! #OhWhatAFeeling@toyota_aus | #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/6XG0WXO1Xy
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 27, 2020
However, it didn’t bring any respite for India as Finch went on to score 114 before Steve Smith scored his fastest ODI ton to further rub salt to India’s wounds. Smith scored 105 off just 66 balls with the help of 11 fours and four sixes. Glenn Maxwell also played a fine cameo of 45 off 19 balls.
For India, Shami was the most successful bowler, taking 3 for 59 off his ten overs. Barring him, no other bowler managed to maintain an economy-rate of less than 6. Jasprit Bumrah conceded 73 off his ten overs while the likes of Navdeep Saini and Yuzvendra Chahal gave away 83 and 89 runs respectively.
Mohammad Kaif criticises Virat Kohli:
Soon after Australia’s innings ended, Mohammad Kaif took to Twitter to express his disappointment over the way Virat Kohli handled Shami. The former cricketer didn’t mention Kohli in his tweet but his words made it clear that he was not at all impressed with the India skipper’s tactics.
Mohammad Kaif criticised Kohli’s decision to take Shami out of the attack after only three overs at the start of the innings, writing:
“Unlike in T20, pacers in ODIs need longer spells. They need to get their rhythm. Shami shouldn’t have been taken off after two overs”
Unlike in T20, pacers in ODIs need longer spells. They need to get their rhythm. Shami shouldn't have been taken off after two overs #cricket #AusvInd
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) November 27, 2020