Indian Cricket Team Updates

No, it wasn’t the repeat telecast of the second ODI, in Jaipur. India indeed chased down a 350-plus total for the second time in the series. And yes, it was Shikhar Dhawan (100 off 102) and Virat Kohli’s (115* off 66) centuries that got them home again. India’s sensational batting gave them a six-wicket win in Nagpur and a chance to win the series in Bengaluru. (Also Read:  India vs Australia Star Sports 6th ODI 2013 - Stats Highlights ) Dhawan, taking his love affair with Australia to a new level, strolled his way to his fourth ODI hundred. With his fifth consecutive 50-plus ODI score, the colour purple of Virat’s form became a tinge richer and deeper. During his 178-run opening stand with Rohit Sharma, Shikhar batted exactly according to the needs of the chase – he was solid yet attacking and took calculated risks. The left-hander scored most of his boundaries flicking and cutting the ball. He also played the odd sweep and paddle sweep to the spinners. Australia’s chang...

The fourth ODI of the series between India and Australia ended in a washout as rain played spoilsport in Ranchi. India’s aim of drawing level in the series with a win has been put on hold as Australia maintain their 2-1 lead going into the fifth match.  (Also Read:  India vs Australia Star Sports 4th ODI 2013 - Stats Highlights ) Chasing Australia’s 295 for 8, the Indian openers had scored 27 in 4.1 overs before rain interrupted the play. Rohit Sharma was unbeaten on nine while Shikhar Dhawan was batting on 14 when the players were taken off the field. After MS Dhoni elected to field, Mohammad Shami had the Aussie top-order back in the pavilion in eight overs. His first spell of six overs with pace, control and immaculate length got him the wickets of Aaron Finch (bowled off a back-of-the-length fast, swinging delivery), Phil Hughes (caught behind off another shortish, rising delivery) and Shane Watson (bowled off a swinging length ball) for 21 runs. Playing his firs...

The run-fest that is Australia’s current limited overs tour of India, got even more feisty as it saw 607 runs scored in almost 100 overs at Mohali. After India chased down 360 in Jaipur, it was Australia’s turn to produce a thrilling finish; and they did, chasing down India’s 303 with four wickets to spare, hence taking a 2-1 lead in the seven-match series.   (Also Read:  India vs Australia Star Sports 3rd ODI 2013 - Stats Highlights ) It were the late-over fireworks by James Faulkner (64 not-out) and Adam Voges (76 not-out) that swung the match in the visitors’ favour from a near-impossible situation. From the Indian perspective, the match was lost when their bowling spearhead and senior-most bowler, Ishant Sharma, conceded 4, 6, 6, 2, 6, 6 – total 30 runs – in the 48 th  over. Having scored 300-plus in the first two matches, the Aussies walked out in the middle confidently to chase down India’s 303. The openers, Aaron Finch (38) and Phil Hughes (22) got o...

Rohit Sharma’s (141 off 123 balls) third ODI century, Shikhar Dhawan’s (95 off 86 balls) game-changing knock and Virat Kohli’s (100 off 52 balls) brutal assault – that produced the fastest ODI century by an Indian – gave India a historic win against Australia in the second ODI in Jaipur. The Men in Blue chased down a mammoth 360 – the highest target chased by India in ODIs. With a nine-wicket win, India drew level 1-1 with Australia with five matches to go in the series. Dhawan and Sharma gave India just the start they needed. After surviving the accurate and quick opening bowling of Mitchell Johnson and Clint McKay, the duo settled down nicely on the batting track to put up 176 runs in 26.1 overs. (Also Read:  India vs Australia Star Sports 2nd ODI 2013 - Stats Highlights ) Dhawan got a couple of reprieves – he was dropped by ‘keeper Brad Haddin on 18 and survived a close stumping chance on 42 – and capitalised on the slice of luck. The left-hander, who has a penchant for...

The Australians have clearly learnt from their T20I loss at Rajkot. It was evident in their changed bowling plan of keeping the length short 80 percent of the time. Indian batsmen struggled against the short and back-of-length deliveries, hence failing to chase Australia’s 305. The visitors went one-up in the series with a 72-run win after bowling India out for 232.  (Also Read:  Stats: India vs Australia Star Sports 1st ODI 2013 ) India’s chase began by the loss of Shikhar Dhawan (7) in the seventh over. James Faulkner not only got rid of the Indian batsman, but also the Australian wicketkeeper, Brad Haddin, by accidentally hitting him in the eye while high-fiving him. Phillip Hughes took over the duties behind the stumps before Haddin returned on the field during the 30 th  over. Faulkner more than made up for the accident and the dropped catch of Suresh Raina (39 off 45) with his bowling figures of 8-0-47-3. (Also Read:  Aaron Finch: We have confidence in ...