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.

Bailey and Finch sails Australia past 300.. India Vs Australia : 1st innings

The much awaited battle for the No.1 spot in ODI's began in Pune as India took on Australia in the first one day international of the 7 match ODI series. On a lush green outfield, Australia won the toss and chose to bat first, contradictory to Dhoni's decision of bowling first, if he had won the toss.

Indian bowling attack looked good in the first six overs of the match as Bhuvanesh Kumar and Vinay Kumar restricted the dangerous and explosive Australian openers Aaron Finch and Phillip Hughes to just 14 runs. Aaron Finch cut loose in the sixth over of the match as he dispatched Bhuvanesh Kumar for a six straight down the ground followed by two boundaries. Finch and Hughes broke free from the shackles and went on to score 49 of the next six overs.

Aaron Finch

The opening pair shifted gears as they continued scoring runs all round the park. The bowling changes didn't seem to work for team India. Finch dispatched Ishant Sharma's first ball to the fence and in the next over took on Ashwin for a first ball six. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli dropped Phil Hughes at point of Ishant Sharma's bowling. Hughes was then on 32. Finch completed his run-a-ball 50 as Australia reached 100 in the 18th over. 

Dhoni was quick in making bowling changes and brought in the left arm off-spinner Ravindra Jadeja. Jadeja struck in the 19th over as Suresh Raina held a sharp low catch down the leg slip to send Hughes back to pavilion. Dhoni was quick to realize that the bowl wasn't coming to the bat that easily and brought in Yuvraj Singh from the other end. Shane Watson with all his intentions tried to send Yuvraj's very first ball over the ropes, only to be caught by Jadeja. This was Yuvraj Singh's first wicket since ICC world cup 2011.

Australian captain George Bailey walked in at No.4. Bailey along with Finch steadied the Australian batting as they rotated the strike and hammered the loose balls to the fence. Yuvraj Singh dream comeback continued as he scalped Finch for 72 leaving Australia at 146 for 3. Yuvraj was then responsible for a sharp run out of  Adam Voges as Australia stumbled to 172 for 4.

Australia took the mandatory batting powerplay in the 36th over with captain Bailey and Glenn Maxwell at the crease. The score then read 185 for 4. Bailey and Maxwell made full utilization of the powerplay. Maxwell lived up to his reputation of playing big shots when needed while Bailey completed his 50. Maxwell soon departed after a quick fire 31 of 23 balls featuring a boundary and 3 huge sixes.

George Bailey

George Bailey with the lower order made sure that Australia get past 300 run mark as they scored 119 runs in the last 15 overs. Bailey was caught by Raina of Ashwin's bowling  for 85 as he tried to fuel the score. Faulkner and Johnson made sure that all the hard work by Finch, Bailey, Hughes and Maxwell doesn't go in vain as they took Australia past 300 run mark. Faulkner dispatched Vinay Kumar for 2 consecutive sixes in the 48th over and Johnson hit two consecutive boundaries of Bhuvanesh Kumar in the 49th over. Faulkner was out for a good catch by Vinay Kumar of Ishant Sharma's bowling in the final over of the innings.

Australia has set a tough target for team India to chase. Given the form that Indian batsmen are in and the depth in their batting, 300 runs chase shouldn't be a difficult task for team India...

Knocking the Doors - 8 most anticipated comebacks of Indian cricket - 2013

Sports and injuries goes hand-in-hand and history is replete of instances where injuries have been gruelling and sometimes have even drawn curtains on the flourishing careers of the sports athletes. One of the most difficult times of a cricketer's career is to make a comeback- a successful one. If you are talking about making a comeback to the Indian cricket team, it makes it even more harder. 

Indian cricket team driven by the animated captaincy of Mahendra Singh Dhoni and inspiring efforts from the youngsters have been scripting glorious pages in the chronicles of Indian cricket. To make a comeback in such a team is a daunting chore. Nevertheless, I acquaint you with the personalities of Indian cricket, all set to stage a roaring return to the international cricket. 

Leading the list of cricketers all set to take a crack at team India again is Yuvraj Singh.

Yuvraj Singh

Yuvraj Singh :  The stylish and dashing left hander from Punjab looks in the best shape of his post cancer recovery career. The Punjab da Puttar returned to India on 24th August after a six week long fitness camp in Brive la Gaillarde, France. The all new fitter and slimmer Yuvi's training in the land of human rights had more emphasis on flexibility and agility, much in line with Dhoni's  and selectors outline for team India. With an experience of over 282 ODI's and tag of Man-of-the-tournament of 2011 world cup, Yuvi is all set for an explosive comeback to the Indian cricket.

Zaheer Khan : The spearhead of Indian pace attack for over a decade now, Zaheer Khan's career got plagued by injuries. It was in december last year against England when Zaheer left the field with a strained right hamstring. Since then, he has been finding it difficult to cope with the injuries. Zak's last ODI appearance was against Sri Lanka on August 4, 2012. Zaheer completed his six-week training camp in France alongside Yuvraj Singh and looks sharper than ever. He has eyed Challenger Trophy, the curtain raiser for 2013-2014 domestic season to prove his fitness. A comeback is definitely on cards and will add the much needed experience to the Indian bowling attack.

Zaheer Khan

                              

Virender Sehwag : Off late, The Sultan of Multan has been finding it difficult for a place in the Indian team. Sehwag, one of the greatest openers in the history of Indian cricket, last played for India in a test match against Australia in March 2013. Viru was dropped following his dismal performances stretched over a period of time. The only Indian player to score triple century(twice) in test matches struggled with his footwork as his form deteriorated.

The likes of Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma faring well for the opening wicket has made Sehwag's comeback even more difficult. Viru's claim to fame was his aggressive, explosive and destructive style of batting that would send shivers down the spine of the teams with best bowling attacks. With 23 Test centuries and 15 ODI centuries under his belt, this flamboyant opener from Delhi will make his way back to the Indian team as soon as he finds his lost rhythm. 

Gautam Gambhir : Gautam Gambhir has been out of the Indian cricket team since January 2013. Gambhir formed an essential part of Indian batting line up as he faced the new ball alongside Virender Sehwag. Gambhir and Sehwag formed one of the best opening pair for India as they average over 60.59 at home only to be bettered by Greenidge and Haynes (65.44) and Mike Atherton and Graham Gooch (63.66). The Delhi-duo unarguably formed the best opening pair of contemporary cricket. One can never forget his invaluable 97 in the world cup final against Sri Lanka. But like Viru, Gauti too succumbed to errors in his footwork. Poor shot selection and heavy feet forced his ouster from the team. Gambhir has been working very hard on his footwork and his decision to play for Essex in the county highlights his undying hunger for a comeback to team India. 

Gautam Gambhir

                                       

Irfan Pathan : Out from the Indian cricket team for over a year now, left arm fast medium swing bowler Irfan Pathan is aiming to rejoin the Men-in-Blue. Pathan last played for India in an ODI against Sri Lanka on 4th August,2012. His exceptional ability to swing the bowl evoked comparisons with the Pakistan's great Wasim Akram, regarded as one of the finest left arm pace-men of all time. His batting potential, identified by Greg Chappell, rose him to the No.2 spot in the ICC test rankings for allrounders which eventually led critics to compare him with the legendary Kapil Dev, former Indian pace-bowling allrounder.

Irfan Pathan

Since 2006, Pathan has been making fitful appearances for team India owing to the decline in his form. Pathan was a part of India's champion winning squad in June but didn't play a single game. He was ruled of the team's immediate tour to West Indies due to a hamstring injury. Pathan was training at NCA to sort out all fitness related issues. An admirer of Wasim Akram, Kapil Dev and V.V.S Laxman, Irfan Pathan is all geared up for Ranji Trophy and local tournaments in Hyderabad to make it to the playing XI of team India. 

Harbhajan Singh : "The Turbanator" hasn't played for India since March 2013.  India's most successful off-spinner went off the cards following a stint of hapless performances with the ball both in test cricket and ODI's. Relatively better performances by Pragyan Ojha and Ravichandran Ashwin juddered the cemented place of Harbhajan in team India. His wicket taking capability, accuracy and precision went missing. But Bhajji worked hard on his bowling and bagged 24 wickets for Mumbai Indians in the latest edition of IPL. People call him a "fighter to the core" for a reason.

Similar to his aspiring colleagues from team India, Harbhajan Singh is targeting the domestic season to stage a hollering comeback into the team India. Over 400 wickets in test cricket and 259 wickets in ODIs makes Bhajji a true force to reckon with. His comeback would surely strengthen the Indian spin attack.

Wasim Jaffer : " Old is Gold' and so is "Wasim Jaffer for team India". I wonder if it's the consistency and performance of  a cricketer or the age that matters the most for selectors to blue-ribbon a player. Wasim Jaffer, by far, has been the most consistent performer at the domestic level. He surpassed Amol Muzumdar to become the highest run-getter in Ranji Trophy. His accomplishments call for a deserving test spot.

Very much in conscious is the fact that the young guns are firing for team India. But, when it comes to Test cricket, I fear these guns would run out of ammunition. With Sehwag and Gambhir struggling with form Jaffer's comeback to the test cricket would possibly fuel much required stability at top of the order. 

Varun Aaron : Varun Aaron is a rare talent for Indian cricket. He made headlines as he hit 153 kph during the 2010-11 Vijay Hazare Trophy final against Gujarat. In a country esurient of genuine quick bowlers, Aaron can consistently bowl in excess of 140 kph with adequate control.

                                           

Aaron suffered an early setback to his career as he developed lower-back stress fracture before India's tour of Australia in December 2011. Before being blighted by the injury, Aaron instilled great promise into the selectors by showcasing his abilities in a rather short stint at international that lasted for only 1 test and 4 ODI appearances. In March, Aaron underwent surgery on the L5 disc in his lower back and was given a six-month recovery time. Post recovery Aaron has been training and bowling with a rather short run-up at NCA. His comeback to the international cricket is anticipated.