In a shocking turn of events, Team India suffered a devastating 10-wicket defeat against Australia in the second ODI match played on Sunday. The Indian team, which was already struggling with injuries and out of form players, could only muster 117 runs before being bowled out by the Australian team.
Winning the toss, Indian captain Virat Kohli decided to bat first on a pitch that looked like a batting paradise. But things didn’t go as planned for the Indian team, as they lost wickets at regular intervals and could never really get going. Except for opener Shikhar Dhawan, who scored 30 runs, none of the other Indian batsmen could even reach the double-digit mark.
The Australian bowlers, led by Josh Hazlewood and Adam Zampa, bowled with great discipline and accuracy, making life difficult for the Indian batsmen. Hazlewood, who finished with figures of 5 for 33, was the pick of the bowlers, and he was well supported by Zampa, who took 4 wickets for just 43 runs.
The Indian team’s batting collapse was certainly surprising, especially considering the fact that they had won the previous match quite convincingly. However, the absence of star players like Rohit Sharma, who was rested for the match, and Jasprit Bumrah, who is nursing an injury, seemed to have had a major impact on the team’s performance.
On the other hand, the Australian team looked in complete control throughout the match. Openers David Warner and Aaron Finch chased down the target of 118 runs with ease, scoring 128 runs in just 20 overs. Both Warner and Finch played some brilliant shots and never looked in any trouble against the Indian bowlers.
The Indian bowlers, who had done well in the previous match, failed to make any impact in this game. The likes of Mohammed Shami, Navdeep Saini, and Kuldeep Yadav couldn’t trouble the Australian batsmen and were hit for boundaries at regular intervals.
This defeat is certainly a big setback for the Indian team, especially considering the fact that they are preparing for the upcoming T20 World Cup. The team will have to regroup quickly and address their batting and bowling issues if they want to put up a good show in the tournament.
Indian captain Virat Kohli, who was visibly disappointed with the team’s performance, said that they need to show more intent with the bat and learn from their mistakes. “We didn’t show enough application with the bat. We need to understand that this is international cricket, and we can’t take any team lightly. We need to regroup quickly and come back stronger in the next match,” he said.
On the other hand, Australian captain Aaron Finch was delighted with his team’s performance and praised the bowlers for their disciplined bowling. “It was a great team effort, and we bowled really well as a unit. Our openers played some great shots and finished the match quickly. We will look to continue this form in the next match as well,” he said.
Overall, this defeat is certainly a wake-up call for the Indian team, and they will have to work hard and iron out their weaknesses if they want to be competitive in the upcoming matches. With the series level at 1-1, the third ODI, which will be played on Wednesday, will be a crucial one for both teams.
