Who would have thought that a depleted Australian side would land in India and walk away with not just one but two trophies? Before the tour started, everyone deemed India to be the favorites for both the series. Australia thumped India 2-0 in the T20I series. If that wasn’t enough, they came back from being 0-2 down to win the ODIs 3-2.
In doing so, they proved that the series victory in T20Is wasn’t a fluke. They proved that they are the World Champions. And despite all the troubles they have gone through in the last one year or so, they can’t be written off. The visitors avenged the defeat India gave them in their own backyard and is some style.
Going into the decider ODI, they had the momentum after winning 2 games in a row. Fortune also favored them as Aaron Finch won the toss on a dry Delhi wicket. The Australians were on a roll with the bat at the top 3 batsmen scored a combined 179 runs. Usman Khawaja scored his 2nd century of the series while Peter Handscomb made 5.
They were well on course for a big score but the Indian bowlers pulled things back slightly. Yet the tail stole some valuable runs that took Australia to 272/9. Two of India’s big top 3 failed this time during the chase. And when that happens, very rarely do the Men in Blue win. The vulnerable middle-order got exposed again.
Rohit Sharma tried to fight a lone battle but his knock ended at 56. Kedar Jadhav and Bhuvneshwar Kumar added 91 runs for the 7th wicket but all they did was delayed the inevitable. India lost the match by 35 runs. The side that was looking well prepared for the World Cup is now left with a plethora of concerns to be handled.
Twitterati hailed Australia’s comeback while criticized the hosts
@RishabPant777 seems to be not fitting in ODI cricket. He is good in Tests where he gets the time or in T20s where it's about going from ball one. He seems a little lost in ODI cricket, not being sure how to go about things.#INDvAUS #INDvsAUS
— Shubham Khare (@shubhamkhare71) March 13, 2019
Great effort by Australia to come from being 2-0 behind and to win the series. This series loss will hurt India badly and they will have to address concerns before the World Cup. Many congratulations to Australia once again #IndvAus
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) March 13, 2019
It is a wonderful achievement by Australia to come back from 0-2 down to win a series. The two teams started from either end of the results spectrum, India on a high and Australia in the dumps, and Australia gained more from this series.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 13, 2019
India played for the World Cup , Australia played for the current series . Finally the cricketing philosophy of 1 ball at a time and 1 match at a Time reigns supreme. #INDvAUS
— Vikram Sathaye (@vikramsathaye) March 13, 2019
Delighted for Australia! Exceptional series win! Their country must be so proud, this is what they wanted, a winning team that’s also a very likeable team.#cricketaustralia
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) March 13, 2019
In the end, India ended up losing 5 of the 7 games on Australia’s tour to India. That’s without Smith, Warner and Starc. And India aren’t closer to nailing the fifteen for the World Cup either. #IndvAus
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 13, 2019
Hopefully this loss won’t effect the confidence of the Indian team and by the time World Cup arrives team would have sorted middle order positions.Well done Australia for winning the series #IndvsAus
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) March 13, 2019
India has never lost a five-match ODI series after winning the first two ODI. In the history of ODI cricket, only three teams have lost a series from that position. #IndvAus
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 13, 2019
Great resilience by Australia to win the series after being down 2-0 , fantastic effort and this win is a great reflection of Aussies spirit. A good wake up call for India and few things to reflect upon #INDVAUS
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) March 13, 2019
https://twitter.com/ICC/status/1105856918764036097
Australia came back from 0-2 to 3-2 and clinched the series leaving the hosts in dismay. #SaddaPunjab #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/2HHGh1atLQ
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) March 13, 2019
AUSTRALIA WIN THE SERIES! History made as Australia seal a 3-2 ODI series victory over India with a 35-run win in Delhi
SCORES: https://t.co/aCzUs03Z2A pic.twitter.com/22Q0BLrDb2
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) March 13, 2019
India now becomes the only side to lose an ODI series (of five or more matches) on two occasions after leading 2-0#IndvAus
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) March 13, 2019
That's a wrap!
Australia win by 35 runs and clinch the series 3-2 #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/SyCAR2JwDM
— BCCI (@BCCI) March 13, 2019
India's World Cup hopefuls haven't sealed their spots…….
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 13, 2019
Last ball of the 50th over. The middle stump is flattened.
Gosh. Worse than the final-over choke in Guwahati?(And Kate Cross wasn't even playing today!)
Which is going to take longer to digest, Indian cricket fans?#INDvENG #INDvAUS
— Annesha Ghosh (@ghosh_annesha) March 13, 2019
Instead of getting conclusive answers in this series, skipper @imVkohli, chief coach Ravi Shastri, batting, bowling and fielding coaches and the selectors are left with more questions on what the composition of WC squad should be
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) March 13, 2019
https://twitter.com/danbrettig/status/1105856769232793600?s=19
https://twitter.com/DelhiCapitals/status/1105858227067998208?s=19
https://twitter.com/mipaltan/status/1105828214667165697?s=19
This is India's first bilateral ODI series defeat at home after winning six consecutive bilateral ODI series at home.
This is Australia's first bilateral ODI series win after losing six consecutive bilateral ODI series.#INDvsAUS
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) March 13, 2019
Looks to me like the Aussies might be just getting something going at the right time …. #CWC19 !!!
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 13, 2019
Over. And Out.
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 13, 2019
Delhi has fallen #indvsaus
— Hemang Badani (@hemangkbadani) March 13, 2019
The inconsistency of openers in this series has thoroughly exposed the batting frailty of India. Not just no.4, India also suffers from a long tail. Kuldeep, Chahal, Bumrah, Shami cannot be trusted to even score 20 runs. Should Bhuvi play ahead of Shami or all 5 must be in XI?
— Navneet Mundhra (@navneet_mundhra) March 13, 2019
https://twitter.com/LMKMovieManiac/status/1105862832061505537
https://twitter.com/ICC/status/1105868341422579713
Also Read:Â Who will win the ODI World Cup 2019? Here are the top 5 contenders
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