Steve Smith-led Australia scripted history on Wednesday as they beat India in the three-match ODI series 2-1. As the series stood levelled at 1-1 after the second ODI in Vizag, the third ODI was the decider and Australia did everything right to seal the match as well as the series. The visitors opted to bat first and managed to set a target of 270 runs for India. The hosts, meanwhile, got off to a good start with the opening pair of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill stitching a 65-run partnership.
However, India lost two wickets in quick succession. But Virat Kohli and KL Rahul got the hosts back on track with a 69-run partnership. After Rahul was dismissed and Axar Patel was run out, Kohli and Hardik Pandya added 34 runs for the fifth wicket. But then Kohli played a shot which he rarely does at such a critical stage of a game and was caught at long-off. Suryakumar Yadav registered his third golden duck to push India further on the back foot.
While Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja gave the fans some hope, Adam Zampa ensured no party for the hosts as the leggie got rid of both batters. Eventually, it was a win for the Aussies by 21 runs. With this, India’s unbeaten run at home which had been going on for four years and 26 series, was broken and fans were definitely not pleased with the result.
Check out the reactions on India’s defeat:
