India vs Australia 2020: 3 standout players from the series

India recovered from a 0-1 deficit to clinch the three-match ODI series against Australia at home 2-1.

After David Warner and Aaron Finch decimated the Indian bowling in the opening one-dayer at Mumbai, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul combined to help India draw level at Rajkot. Rohit Sharma then joined the party with a century in the decider at Bengaluru as India triumphed by seven wickets.

For Australia, Steve Smith excelled with 98 and 131. However, lack of support from the rest, barring Marnus Labuschagne, hurt the visitors in a big way.

Among the bowlers, Mohammed Shami impressed for India with seven wickets while Adam Zampa did his reputation no harm with five. However, the lack of effectiveness of pacers Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc after the first ODI heroics led to Australia’s undoing in a big way.

With India having wrapped up the series with a clinical effort at Bengaluru, we take a look at the three standout performers across the three games.

Also see – India vs New Zealand schedule

#3 Mohammed Shami

Mohammed Shami

Although Mohammed Shami conceded runs at an economy rate of 7.15, his efforts were still commendable considering the crucial wickets he got and the timing of his victims.

At Bengaluru, Shami claimed the scalp of David Warner early, and then dismissed a well-set Smith for 131. This was at the start of the 48th over; had Smith stayed on for the last couple of overs, he could have added some crucial runs at a quick pace.

Shami then proceeded to clean up Cummins and Zampa to ensure there was no final flourish in store for Australia. If not for Shami, the Aussies could have gone well above 300 in the innings.

Shami made a significant contribution in the second ODI at Rajkot too. While Warner’s wicket in the game was due to Manish Pandey’s brilliance, Shami sent back Ashton Turner and Cummins off successive deliveries to cripple any chances of Australia’s fightback.

The Aussies were 259 for 5 after 43 overs, and had an outside chance of chasing down 341 when Shami came into the picture and swung the match India’s way completely.

#2 Steve Smith

Steve Smith

Although his two efforts came in a losing cause, Steve Smith once again demonstrated what a genius with the bat he is. With 229 runs in two innings at an average of 114.50 and a strike rate of 97.86, Smith, not for the first time, proved to be a thorn in India’s flesh.

After not being needed to bat in the first game as Finch and Warner went berserk, Smith’s 98 from 102 kept Australia’s hopes alive in a tough chase of 341 at Rajkot. Australia were reasonably placed at 221 for 4 in the 38th over when Kuldeep Yadav got through his defences with a clever piece of bowling. Had Smith stayed longer, Australia would have definitely got closer.

Smith carried on the great work in the Bengaluru ODI as well. After being involved in a horrible mix-up with skipper Finch, Smith put his head down and compiled a quite magnificent 131 from 132 balls.

Apart from Marnus Labuschagne (54) no one else provided much support to Smith, which is why Australia could only post 286 - with Smith contributing a little under half the runs.

Smith’s success and Australia’s loss reiterates that cricket, at the end of the day, is a team sport.

#1 Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli

This was a tough choice. Shikhar Dhawan got two crucial fifties, and Rohit Sharma hit the hundred that won India the series. However, Indian skipper Virat Kohli got the nod as he played crucial knocks in both of India’s victories.

Having abandoned the number four experiment following the disaster in Mumbai, Kohli returned to his customary number three position at Rajkot, and was in his elements yet again. His 78 from 76 consolidated the Indian innings after another great start from the Rohit-Dhawan pair.

With Kohli at the crease, Rahul got a free hand to take on the Aussie bowling, and it resulted in a strokeful 50-ball 82 from the youngster. Kohli could have gone on to three figures but for some brilliant ‘rope work’ on the boundary by the Aussie fielders.

Kohli missed out on a hundred at Bengaluru as well. However, his 91-ball 89 was the perfect foil to Rohit’s 119 as India went about the chase of 287 in a professional manner.

Often in the past, Rohit’s hundreds against the Aussies have gone in vain. But on Sunday, Kohli ensured that he took India to the brink of victory.

Kohli’s knock also gave breathing space to Shreyas Iyer, who was coming in on the back of a few low scores. Had Kohli been dismissed early, Iyer would have been under a lot of pressure. But the master of chases aced the challenge once again.

It was a captain’s effort from the leader!