India vs Australia: Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer script Men in Blue's 99-run win in rain-marred second ODI, seal series

Team India produced an all-round, clinical effort in a rain-curtailed second ODI against Australia in Indore, to win the match by 99 runs, and eventually clinch the series with a game to spare. The win also meant that India would go into the ODI World Cup as the number one side in the 50-over format. For Australia, this defeat was their fifth consecutive loss in ODIs. On Sunday, India ticked yet another box as Shreyas Iyer (105) roared back to form with a splendid century, while putting up a 200-run stand with fellow centurion Shubman Gill (104). Suryakumar Yadav (72) also showcased his attacking prowess yet again to register his second consecutive half-century, while stand-in skipper KL Rahul contributed 52 off 38 deliveries. The dominant display by the top and middle order helped India post 399/5, their highest ODI total against Australia.

India lost Ruturaj Gaikwad early, after they were put into bat, but Iyer and Gill looked unstoppable. Gill got off to a rather sedate start, collecting nine off the first 19 deliveries before changing gears and taking on the bowlers with aggression. This was Gill’s fifth ODI century of 2023, while for Iyer, it was a much needed resurgence following a back injury that saw him remain out of competitive cricket for several months. Iyer, who was fighting for a spot in the middle-order with Ishan Kishan, might have settled the debate for now. However, Surya has emerged as another contender for that one spot with an explosive knock. The Holkar Stadium tends to produce high-scoring games and Sunday’s game proved no exception. Gill’s peerless form is an ominous reminder to rivals ahead of next month’s World Cup. It was a second consecutive ODI hundred for the 24-year-old at this venue, having hammered 112 off 78 balls against New Zealand earlier this year when India ended with a match-winning 395. Unlike Iyer, Gill began slowly on Sunday, collecting nine off his first 19 balls before going after the Aussie bowlers with disdain. He was unstoppable after his first strike which was a straight six off pacer Abbott in the ninth over. Cameron Green tried a short one against Gill who was happy to pull him away for a six over fine leg. But the rain caused a 40-minute delay, putting a temporary halt to the entertainment. Both Gill and Iyer, who struggled with cramps towards the end of his innings, continued to find boundaries after resumption. The highlight of Gill’s knock was how frequently he danced down the track against the fast bowlers while Iyer’s aggressive intent from ball one stood out in a scenario where he was desperately searching for runs. Both Iyer and Gill got their half-centuries with straight sixes, off debutant Spencer Johnson and Green respectively. Conditions were ideal for the batters but the Australian attack, missing the likes of Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, looked short on ideas. Lead spinner Adam Zampa too could not stem the flow of runs. Iyer was the first to complete a century, his third in ODIs, while Gill got to the milestone, his sixth in the format, 19 balls later. When both the batters departed, Rahul and Kishan (31 off 18) played some bold strokes to up the scoring rate. Suryakumar, who had to change his game in the previous match to adapt to the needs of ODI cricket, came out to bat in the 41st over. In the T20 context, it was an ideal time for him to come and explore his 360 range from ball one. He did just that to power India to a formidable total. His innings included four sixes in a row off Green in the 44th over. The towering pacer conceded 103 runs in his 10 overs, so symbolic of their wretched outing with the ball on the day. Australia were never in the run chase after losing their first two wickets off successive deliveries from pacer Prasidh Krishna in the second over. Both Matthew Short and Steve Smith fell chasing wide deliveries.

The extra bounce that Krishna generates contributed to Smith’s dismissal with Gill holding on to a flying catch at first slip. Warner then enthralled the spectators with his stroke play, batting both right and left-handed. He batted right-handed mainly to Ashwin who got the ball to turn even after the rain break. After sensationally sweeping Ashwin with his right-hand, Warner was adjudged leg before-wicket as he attempted a reverse hit from the unusual stance. India were guilty of dropping two catches in the field. Ravindra Jadeja too got plenty of purchase from the surface and ended with three wickets. Rain stopped play for the second time in the game when Australia were 56 for two in nine overs. With the revised target of 317 in 33 overs, they fell further behind in the game and ended with 217 all out in 28.2 overs. David Warner (53 off 39), who batted right-handed against R Ashwin (3/41), and Sean Abbott (54 off 36), had a good hit in the middle. The series win without their five main players in the squad was a big boost for India ahead of the World Cup at home. The final game, in which a full strength India squad is expected to play, will take place in Rajkot on Wednesday. With inputs from PTI