Rahul, Jadeja lift India to 1-0 lead in tricky chase

KL Rahul shed his troubles in the longest format and carried India to victory with a superb fighting half-century in the first ODI against Australia at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. After the Indian seamers skittled Australia for 189 in the first innings, Rahul rescued India from the Mitchell Starc-inspired top-order collapse in the chase. The number five shared a century stand with Ravindra Jadeja in treacherous conditions to take the Men in Blue home by five wickets, giving the hosts a 1-0 lead in the series.

Chasing 189, Rahul walked to the crease with India reeling at 16 for three with the ball hooping around corners. Marcus Stoinis accounted for Ishan Kishan in the second over with an inswinging delivery, while Mitchell Starc wreaked havoc with the new ball. The left-armer passed Shubman Gill’s outside edge on multiple occasions before dismissing Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav off identical successive deliveries, getting the ball to tail back in prodigiously against the right-handers and crash into the pads.

KL Rahul showcased his class by driving Mitchell Starc for four through the covers off his hat-trick delivery, but the wicket-keeper’s job got even tougher when Gill cut the left-armer to Marnus Labuschagne at point. At 39 for four, Rahul had to reign in his attacking tendencies and stabilise the innings to prevent the loss of any further wickets.

Rahul added 44 runs alongside Hardik Pandya that weathered the initial storm, but the skipper top-edged a pull to Cameron Green in the deep to fall for a quickfire 25. With the asking rate not an issue, Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja dug deep and bided their time at the crease to slowly turn the tables in favour of the hosts.

The pair ran the singles and found the boundary at the opportune moments, with Rahul creaming Zampa for a four and six and Jadeja hammering Starc through the leg-side to seal the win inside 40 overs.

Earlier in the day, India restricted Australia to a below-par score of 188 thanks to an outstanding effort from their seamers.  Mitchell Marsh blazed away to a 65-ball 81 after Travis Head’s early departure, dishing out severe damage to the pacers and spinners to take Australia to 129 for two in 19.3 overs.

However, Ravindra Jadeja removed the dangerous right-hander to change the momentum of the innings and trigger an Australian collapse. The visitors continued to lose wickets after Marsh’s departure, as Labuschagne perished to an outstanding catch from Jadeja before Mohammed Shami picked up three wickets in a sensational second spell.

Glenn Maxwell also fell cheaply to Ravindra Jadeja for eight, while Siraj cleaned up the tail to bowl Australia out for 188 inside 36 overs and set up India’s eighth consecutive victory in ODIs.