||Desk Report||

The veteran MS Dhoni and all-rounder Kedar Jadhav finally revitalized India with the first ODI win against Australia after T20 grief. The hosts, who have been whitewashed in two-match T20 series, beat the visitors by 6 wickets in Hyderabad on Saturday. Meanwhile, India lost two T20 matches by 3 wickets and by 7 wickets respectively.  

The unbeaten 141-run partnership in the fifth-wicket stand between Jadhav and Dhoni helped India for chasing the target of 238 set by Australia.  The wicketkeeper-batsman Dhoni scored 59 off 72 balls while Jadhav smashed 81 off 87 deliveries.  

Earlier, the visitors managed to score 236 for 7 after electing the bat first. Opener Usman Khawaja knocked the highest only, 50 off 76 balls while Glenn Maxwell carrying on his form from the T20I series to post the second highest score 40 off 52.  

However, the visitors got the early blow while skipper Aaron Finch removed for the naught. Then, Khawaja along with Marcus Stoinis added 87 runs in their second-wicket-stand. But, Kedar Jadhav, who took one wicket only, broke the partnership by removing Stoinis for 37, followed by Khawaja who was sent back by Kuldeep Yadav. Handscomb also failed and went back for 19.

After then, Maxwell came to the crease and tried to resist Indian bowlers, but he was also stopped Mohammed Shami who bowled Ashton Turner (21) out on his previous over. Later, Alex Carey and Nathan Coulter-Nile contributed 62 runs in their seventh-wicket-stand. But, Coulter-Nile dismissed by Jasprit Bumrah in the fifth ball of the innings-last over for 28. Carey remained not out for 36. Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav picked up two wickets each.

In reply, the hosts also got an early blow after opener Shikhar Dhawan dismissed by Coulter-Nile for the naught. But in-form Rohit Sharma and captain Virat Kohli stove off the hosts adding 80 runs in the second wicket-stand before Kohli’s departure for 44. After, Rohit was also removed by Coulter-Nile for 37, followed by Ambati Rayudu for 13. India lost 4 wickets for 99.

Then, the 33-year-old Dhoni took the command and clinched the win along with Jadhav with 10 balls to spare in the game. The duo remained unbeaten and added 141 runs in their fifth-wicket-stand that helped India scoring 240 for 4. Kedar Jadhav named as the Player of the Match spot for 81* and 1-31. The second ODI will kick off in Nagpur on March 5.

Brief scores

Australia: 236/7

Khawaja 50, Maxwell 40; Shami 2-44, Kuldeep 2-46

India: 240/4