Australia defeats India by 72 runs, wins first ODI.

Australia thrashed India by 72 runs in the first ODI of the 7 match ODI series at Pune. After posting a challenging 305 runs target batting first, it was left to the Australian bowlers to halt the solid Indian batting line-up from overcoming the 1st innings score. 

India started cautiously with both openers Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma taking time to settle and get used to the pitch. The Australians seamers made it extremely difficult for the Indian batsmen to score runs. Consistent line with good bowling speed combined with short bowling pushed Dhawan and Rohit into a shell.

As the pair tried to break free, Dhawan felt prey to a very good delivery from Faulkner which moved away from batsmen and nicked Dhawan's bat on its way to wicket-keeper Haddin. In walked Virat Kohli, but the Australian pace attack of Faulkner and Mckay didn't give any chance to the right handers to score runs. 

In the 9th over Rohit Sharma eased the pressure as he hit Faulkner for 3 boundaries. Just when things started looking good for India and there was a partnership building, Shane Watson bowled a beautiful delivery to get rid of Rohit Sharma. The ball swayed away after hitting the deck and Rohit Sharma couldn't resist nicking the ball to part-time wicket-keeper Phil Hughes. 

Faulkner 3 wickets proved crucial in Australia's victory

Suresh Raina walked in at No.4 to accompany Virat Kohli. The pair looked good as India began scoring runs at a brisk pace. The pair had put on 71 for the 4th wicket till Faulkner striked again to remove Suresh Raina for 39 leaving India at 3 down for 137 runs. Yuvraj Singh walked to the center amidst huge cheers. The crowd went wild as Yuvraj pulled the second ball of his innings for a six. George Bailey made a quick change and brought in the fierce Mitchell Johnson and Johnson in-turn appreciated his captain's call by scalping the price wicket of Yuvraj Singh for 7.

The run rate kept on mounting from 6 an over to 7 and then 9 per over. Australian pace attack kept on greeting Indian batsmen with chin music. No batsmen looked comfortable except for Virat Kohli who completed his 25th ODI fifty. Shane Watson removed the well set Virat Kohli an over before the batting powerplay, leaving India with only two specialist batsmen in Dhoni and Jadeja with over 140 runs to chase. 

Jadeja was caught by Bailey as Faulkner picked up his 3rd wicket of the night. India never looked comfortable chasing 300 plus as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Australian bowlers didn't give away anything to Indian batsmen. Every single run was made to earn. Australia's brilliant fielding added to the difficulties for team India. 

Even Dhoni didn't look comfortable facing Australian seamers. The captain cool looked out of options as he was unable to free his arms at his will.  Mckay uprooted Dhoni's off stump in the 41st over, thus crushing any hopes of India winning the match. Bhuvanesh Kumar and Vinay Kumar held on for final few overs to take India to 232. Finch removed Bhuvanesh Kumar to seal a 72 run victory for Australia.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni's off stump uprooted by McKay

It's never going to be easy for India against Australia. Although the current Australian team is being underrated but still they are on the No.2 spot in the ODI rankings for a reason. The win at Pune is a bright example of what this Australian team is capable off. Indian batsmen have to find a way to deal with the short pitch bowling of Australian seamers. It's just the end of first ODI, there are 6 more to go and there are equal number of opportunities for both the teams to top the world ODI rankings.

Young Blood Has It All...

Indian cricket is on the pinnacle of its success and much of its blossom can be owed to the dynamic captaincy of Mahendra Singh Dhoni and a bunch of young lads, who have grown in their stature by accomplishing achievements that no other cricketers of same generation were able to accomplish.

They changed the face of Indian cricket forever. The need for more youngsters in the team was realized by Saurav Ganguly, under whose captaincy names like Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Mohammed Kaif, Yuvraj Singh, Irfan Pathan, Zaheer Khan emerged. But then team India always had seats reserved for the ageing fabulous four (Saurav, Sachin, Dravid and Laxman).  There was a wealthy chance given to players who didn't perform. As the time marched on, the lack of agility and flexibility became more and more visible.

 

The captaincy shifted hands and the young lad from Ranchi (whose long cascading hair once drew praise from the then Pakistani President General Parvez Musharraf) was presented with the gigantic task of leading team India. Soon it was apparent that things were inclined to change.  Leading team India was no meager task yet Dhoni took no time to prove his mettle. He didn't invest in the risk of losing matches by sitting down players with inconsistent performances. The budding cricketers used this opportunity to shine above the horizon just in line with Dhoni to turn his dream of winning the 2011 world cup into a praise-worthy reality.

 The move quickly uncovered the abundance of talent available at domestic level in youngsters like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ravindra Jadeja and few young lads who gradually became the core part of team India. This was the reincarnation of Indian cricket; young and prolific form yet mighty and unshaken in its potential. Even as this transformation drew some criticism, Dhoni maintained his stance.

The transformation paid off as India made history by winning the inaugural edition of Twenty20 world cup and then scripted history by defeating Australia in their homeland in the Common Wealth Bank Series. It was made clear by the selectors that experience is no more a criteria and one has to perform on a consistent basis to cement his place in the team. The mantra worked as every youngster became more focused in seizing every opportunity at their disposal.

The likes of Dhawans, Rainas, Kohlis and Jadejas soon emerged. The team India which had two or three good fielders in the squad soon became a team where everyone would dive to stop in a single. An athletic bunch of youngsters soon earned recognition as the best fielders in the world. The standards were now on par with the most acclaimed teams around the globe including England, Australia and South Africa. One must also appreciate the efforts of BCCI in improving the infrastructure that eventually lead to the raise in standards.

In Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Shamra, India found successors for the flamboyant opening pair of Sehwag and Gambhir. Kohli and Pujara could always be shuffled for number three and number four spots in the batting list. There’s much of reliability on Kohli, Pujara, Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja, who strengthen the middle order. One can only be a fool to exclude the Captain Cool, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, finest of batsmen and unarguably the greatest finisher in the world of cricket.

The bowling department is just as good as the batting with the experienced Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma. Bhuvanesh Kumar has been the find of the season for team India with Umesh Yadav on the reserve. India has world class spinners in Ravichandra Ashwin, Pragyan Ojha and Ravindra Jadeja with his successful bowling stint ends the search for the fifth bowler.

For now, everything looks green for team India with the bench being warmed up by the names that include Ajinkya Rahane, Dinesh Kartik, Murali Vijay, Amit Mishra, Manoj Tiwari, Shami Ahmed and Parvez Rasool, the talent of whom have already been glimpsed to the world.

Team India in its current composition stands tall with a learned past, a remarkable present and possibly a lustrous future.