IND vs AUS: In an electrifying showdown at the Mohali Cricket Stadium, the Indian cricket team triumphed over Australia by a margin of 5 wickets in the first ODI match.
This victory was nothing short of historic for Team India. However, beneath the euphoria of the win, several glaring shortcomings came to the fore.
The curtain-raiser of the 3-match ODI series between India and Australia unfolded on Friday, September 22, at the iconic Mohali Cricket Stadium.
Team India clinched this nail-biting encounter with a 5-wicket victory, a win that reaffirmed their top ranking in all three ICC formats. While the triumph was celebrated with gusto, there were noticeable chinks in Team India’s armour during the match, which may leave them in a state of concern. Let’s delve into these areas of concern:
KL Rahul’s Bad Keeping
Team India’s captain, KL Rahul, displayed subpar wicketkeeping skills in this match. His glaring missed run-out opportunity involving Australia’s star player, Marnus Labuschagne, was a low point.
Additionally, his performance behind the stumps against the fast bowlers left much to be desired, as he let several balls slip by. Rahul’s uncharacteristic lapses may raise concerns for India, especially with an eye on the impending World Cup.
Bad Fielding Of Indian Player
The disappointment extended beyond KL Rahul’s keeping as the fielding efforts of other Indian players also left a lot to be desired against the Australian side. The team’s overall fielding performance has drawn criticism.
Shreyas Iyer’s initial drop of a catch from Australia’s explosive opener, David Warner, was particularly noteworthy. Despite these fielding lapses, India’s bowlers rallied impressively, managing to bowl out Australia for a total of 276.
Shardul Thakur’s Day to Forget
Renowned as the ‘Golden Arm’ and fondly referred to as ‘Lord Thakur’ within the Indian team, fast bowler Shardul Thakur endured a challenging outing against Australia. Suffering from health issues, Shardul failed to secure a single wicket.
His 10-over spell in the first ODI proved costly, conceding 78 runs at an economy rate of 7.80. Such a performance might put Shardul’s World Cup spot in jeopardy. Team India could consider the possibility of replacing him with Mohammed Shami as the third pacer for the World Cup, considering Shami’s current good form.”
Team India, despite the triumph, finds itself grappling with these issues that need prompt attention as they gear up for the forthcoming World Cup.