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In an unexpected twist at the Holkar Stadium in Indore, the pitch heavily favored spinners, much to the surprise of stand-in Indian captain KL Rahul. On September 24, Team India showcased their prowess, outclassing Australia by a staggering 99 runs (DLS method), thus sealing the three-match ODI series with a 2-0 lead.
Challenged with a colossal target of 400 runs, the Australian side couldn't cope with the Indian bowlers' skill, getting bundled out for just 217 in 28.2 overs. The fiery Prasidh Krishna provided the team with an early wicket, paving the way for spinners Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. Both Ashwin and Jadeja made the most of the pitch, dismissing Australian batsmen with relative ease.
"When I saw the wicket, didn't think it would spin that much. 400 on the board also gives you confidence," Rahul said in the post-match presentation ceremony.
KL Rahul's comeback to international cricket after an injury hiatus has been nothing short of spectacular. He continued his rich vein of form by contributing a rapid half-century in the clash against Australia. This knock comes right after Rahul's commendable unbeaten fifty at the PCA Stadium in Mohali, reinforcing his crucial role in the batting lineup.
"(Selection) is the headache of the coach and Rohit...whoever gets picked has a job to do. Sitting out can be hard after scoring a lot of runs but everyone has been through that," he stated.
However, the captain also expressed mild concerns over a couple of missed opportunities towards the climax of Australia's innings. Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shardul Thakur inadvertently provided Josh Hazlewood with twin chances. Fortunately for India, these slip-ups didn't come at a significant cost.
"I know we dropped a couple of catches, but when you are travelling every second day and playing at a different ground is getting used to the lights. A lot of guys have been playing for a long time... we are trying to manage bodies and fielding is directly related to how fresh you are," Rahul added.
Cricket enthusiasts are now keenly awaiting the third and final ODI of the series, set to be hosted on September 27 at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot. With India already claiming the series, it'll be interesting to see if Australia can pull one back or if the Indian team will pursue a clean sweep.
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