India and Australia are two of the most successful cricketing nations in the world, and their rivalry on the field has produced some of the most memorable moments in the sport’s history. The 2023 three-match ODI series generated a lot of excitement among cricket fans around the world.
Australia won the highly anticipated three-match ODI series against India by 2-1, delivering a comprehensive performance throughout the series.
The first match, played in Mumbai, saw Australia batting first and posting a low total of only 188 runs for the loss of ten wickets in the thirty-sixth over. Opener Mitchell Marsh led the charge with a fluent eighty-five off just sixty-five deliveries, while Steve Smith and Josh Inglis played short cameos to propel the team to a competitive total. In reply, India lost the early momentum after losing four quick wickets at a score of thirty-nine.
Australia’s pace duo Starc-Stoinis managed to send half of the Indian batters to the pavilion but Indian batting duo Rahul-Jadeja held their nerve and led their team across the boundary line.
The Indian team won the match and took the early lead in the series.
The second match, played in Visakhapatnam, saw Australia bounce back in style. Batting first, India got all out on just 107 runs, which Australia chased down in just eleven overs without even losing a single wicket and squared the series 1-1.
Mitchell Starc’s five-for rattled the top batting order again of the Indian team in the second one-day international and he made sure the Australian team stayed alive in the series.
The third and series decider match, played at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, was a must-win for both teams. Australia won the toss and elected to bat first. They posted a total of 269 runs, with Marsh scoring yet another impressive innings, and Alex Carey playing a crucial innings in the middle overs. India’s chase got off to a good start, with Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill putting on a sixty-five run stand for the first wicket. However, the Indian middle order collapsed under pressure, and they eventually fell short by 21 runs. The Australian spin bowling attack, led by Adam Zampa and Ashton Agar, kept the pressure on throughout the innings, and did not allow the Indian batsmen to settle down.
With this win, Australia clinched the series 2-1, and established themselves as one of the best ODI teams in the world. Their performances in all departments of the game were clinical and impressive, and they thoroughly deserved their victory. The Indian team, on the other hand, will have to go back to the drawing board and reassess their strategy going forward. They will be disappointed with their middle-order performances, which let them down in crucial moments of the series.
Nonetheless, the series featured an excellent display of world-class cricket, and both teams provided ample entertainment for the fans.
