‘Was eager to make last minute chance count’
WITH DHONI RESTED FOR THE LAST TWO ODIS, KOHLI STRUGGLED TO CONTROL. IT HAS BEEN THE FORMER SKIPPER’S ROLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE BOWLERS
huge opening stand saw the innings pan out differently.
PANDYA’S ABSENCE
The absence of all-rounder Hardik Pandya due to the recurrence of back trouble too hasn’t helped. It means the selectors will have to go by his IPL performances. Vijay Shankar has impressed as back-up all-rounder, but India will be weighing all options to find someone to accelerate in the slog overs, like Dhoni of old.
And it doesn’t look like India are settled on Ravindra Jadeja, who can contribute with the bat, ball and on the field. He played the first three games, bowling economically in two wins, but the old confidence with the bat was missing, coming in at No 8. Kedar Jadhav going low to bowl spin could also come at a price for the player who has been sidelined by a hamstring strain more than once.
Much like India are half the batting unit without Virat Kohli, to defend a total Dhoni has to pull strings under pressure. But testing talent in piece-meal fashion hasn’t lent solidity to the kind of side that would have convinced Kohli that the squad is indeed settled ahead of IPL. MOHALI: Middle-order batsman Ashton Turner, whose spectacular knock of 84 runs took Australia over the line against India in the fourth ODI at Mohali, said he was raring to perform for his team.
“I feel like I have had a great opportunity to hit lot of balls in the nets and get used to the conditions behind the scenes. I had a lot of confidence, I was ready to go if I was given the chance,” the International Cricket Council (ICC) quoted Turner as saying.
Turner, who came in as a last minute replacement for Marcus Stoinis, played a remarkable knock dispatching the Indian bowlers.
“I turned up at the stadium and got to know that Marcus Stoinis, who went through a fitness test, has got a broken thumb. He is a pretty tough bloke, so I thought he would get up and play and I would be running drinks again. It was a last-minute [situation], to transition my mind from not playing to playing,” Turner said in the post-match ceremony.
Australia recorded their highest ODI chase of all time as they Runs (Balls) (29) (29) (34) (25) Batsman Ashton Turner (Aus) James Faulkner (Aus) Gulbadin Naib (Afg) Kevin Pietersen (Eng) chased down India’s 358 with 2.1 overs to spare. Peter Handscomb scored his first ODI century and Usman Khawaja played a knock of 91.
But the match changing innings was played by Turner who played a crucial inning of 84 runs off just 43 deliveries.
As a result of this win, Austra- Opposition India India Zimbabwe Australia Venue Mohali, 2019 Mohali, 2013 Sharjah, 2016 Bristol, 2005
TARGET
lia levelled the five-match series 2-2 against India.
Australia would look to give their World Cup campaign a boost by winning the ODI series against India.
Australia take on India in the final ODI of the five-match series on Wednesday at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium on New Delhi.