Captain Virat Kohli led from the front, scoring his 40th ODI century to help India recover from a shaky start and post a competitive total of 250 in the second ODI against Australia.
Asked to bat first, India had a disastrous start as Rohit Sharma departed in the very first over for a six-ball duck. Shikhar Dhawan, who had registered a duck in the previous game, and Virat Kohli then calmed down the nerves in the dressing room but the two could not big a build partnership. Dhawan was looking in his elements as he had already struck four boundaries to race away to 21.
But before the duo could lay the foundation for a big total, Dhawan threw away his wicket by playing a poor shot of the bowling of Glenn Maxwell. Consequently, India found themselves 2 down for just 38 runs. The onus was now on skipper Kohli to bail the team out of trouble in company of his teammates. Well, Kohli did play his part to perfection but got little support from the other hand. Ambati Rayudu failed to deliver for the second game in a row this series before Vijay Shankar, promoted in the batting order, eased the pressure off Kohli with some string of boundaries.
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Stand up and applaud. The Run Machine brings up his 40th ODI Century ??
What a player #KingKohli ?#INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/9s2ziwh6kR
— BCCI (@BCCI) March 5, 2019
The duo looked set to bat India to a position of strength before Adam Zampa broke the stand by running Shankar out. The allrounder scored 46 off 41 balls en route his 81-run stand. India then suffered two big setbacks in quick succession. Last game’s heroes Kedar Jadhav and MS Dhoni departed on successive deliveries as the hosts found themselves reeling on 171 for 6 from 156 for 3.
However, Kohli remained firm from his end and went on to score a fine century, his 40th in ODIs.
He was well supported by Ravindra Jadeja (21) as the duo added 67 runs for the seventh wicket to take the score close to the 250-run mark. The hosts then suffered another collapse towards the end, losing their last four wickets for just 12 runs to get all out for 250 from 238 for 6
Here is how Twitter reacted to the innings:
Early signs that @imVkohli looks in the mood … !! #INDvAUS
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 5, 2019
Top innings. Another day at work. Century for Virat Kohli. 40 in 224 innings is an unreal stat.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 5, 2019
Another aspect of Virat Kohli's cricket. Hot day, 100 on the board and he is still running between the wickets like he has just come in
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 5, 2019
Virat Kohli will have 50 ODI hundreds by year end. #INDvAUS
— Jamie Alter ? ?? (@alter_jamie) March 5, 2019
This is @imVkohli at his finest, getting runs amidst the ruins! In slightly challenging conditions, he's just backed himself and let go of the ego of a great batsman. Even in cruise mode he's delivered a potentially match-winning Century #Virat40th100 #IndvsAus
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) March 5, 2019
Quality innings from Kohli on a tricky pitch. A diet of singles and twos and then the occasional boundary… a map of the field must be fitted in his brain #INDvAUS
— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) March 5, 2019
Barring handy support from Vijay Shankar, this has been a stupendous one-man show by @imVkohli. India could conceivably get to 300!if he bats till the end which would be extremely daunting for Aus batting second
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) March 5, 2019
Vijay Shankar's 46 (41) today was seriously promising for India, playing an extremely low 4.1% false shots.
The last time an Indian who wasn't Rohit, Dhawan or Kohli made that many runs, with that much control, was Hardik Pandya in the Champions Trophy Final. #INDvAUS
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) March 5, 2019
Vijay Shankar has been extremely impressive. This is who he is. A quality batsman who can give you a few overs.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 5, 2019
Ravindra Jadeja third Indian to score 2000+ runs and claim 150+ wkts in ODIs after Kapil Dev and Sachin Tendulkar!#IndvAus
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) March 5, 2019
Forget Vijay Shankar the all rounder, let’s focus on Vijay Shankar the batsman. That innings of 46 was oozing class. ????#AUSvIND
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) March 5, 2019
Played beautifully- horrible way to get out. https://t.co/2DUNYDVTu7
— Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) March 5, 2019
Vijay Shankar has the chance to do a Dinesh Mongia in England this year.
— cricBC (@cricBC) March 5, 2019
Without Dhoni at the other end, Jadhav falls early.
Without Jadhav at the other end, Dhoni falls even earlier.#IndvAus
— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) March 5, 2019
Rayudu gone? I'm never impressed with his batting .. feels like over rated player #INDvAUS
— pinky (@Duchess_Of_Swag) March 5, 2019
Hope I don't jinx him but Shankar already looks more confident and at ease than Rayudu in his entire innings.
— Saurabh Malhotra (@MalhotraSaurabh) March 5, 2019
https://twitter.com/riddhi171/status/1102875673549398017?
It should be evident to #TeamIndia that @RayuduAmbati isn’t a solution to number 4 slot it’s still vacant a big gap to fill surely it will be exposed in World Cup on seaming tracks #WorldCup2019 #INDvAUS
— Vipin Bajaj (@iamvipin44) March 5, 2019
Dhoni didn't come at 4th to test Vijay Shankar.
Dhoni goes out on first ball to test Ravindra Jadeja.
Genius ?#INDvAUS
— Sunil The Cricketer (@1sInto2s) March 5, 2019
Batting collapses like this are why India can't truly be considered World Cup favourites imo.
— Dave Tickner (@tickerscricket) March 5, 2019
India losing the plot. Score of 240-250 could severely test Aus, but getting there will be task unless Kohli stays till the end
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) March 5, 2019
Shankar left Delhi and has started to perform, Dhawan came back to Delhi and started to suck again. #INDvAUS
— Shubh Aggarwal (@shubh_chintak) March 5, 2019
Rayudu has got a reasonably long rope but came good mostly against minnows only. His record against top-tier teams with good bowling attack has been mediocre. The only innings of note against a decent team I can remember is 90 vs New Zealand. Must still be in World Cup squad?
— Navneet Mundhra (@navneet_mundhra) March 5, 2019