In the absence of Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya on his ODI captaincy debut picked Ishan Kishan in the side. But Kishan the more experienced wicketkeeper was not donning the gloves when India took the field after Pandya opted to bowl first. KL Rahul who has been backed as the wicketkeeper-batter in ODIs in absence of a Rishabh Pant was seen keeping the wickets.
Not considered as one of the best wicketkeepers in India, Rahul pulled off a spectacular catch diving to his right to dismiss Australia skipper Steve Smith. In the 13th over of Australia's innings, skipper Pandya bowled a length ball wide of off stump. Smith chased the ball away from him in an attempt to muscle it towards off side boundary but managed a thick edge. Rahul dived to his right and got both gloves to it to take the prized wicket.
Smith got out after scoring 22 runs from 30 deliveries. In the previous over, Smith had survived an lbw decision as he managed a thin inside edge.
Smith’s wicket turned out to be the only wicket Pandya got in the first ODI at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on March 17.
Apart from Mitchell Marsh who scored a blazing 65-ball 81, no other Australia batter could convert a decent start as the visitors suffered batting collapse. Pacers Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj picked up two wickets each to dismiss Australia for 188 with 86 balls left in the innings. Ravindra Jadeja took two wickets whereas Kuldeep Yadav dismissed one.
It was a dull international comeback from Glenn Maxwell who scored just eight runs from 10 deliveries. He was sent in to bat at no.7 after Josh Inglis was dismissed by Shami.
“There’s always good bounce on the Mumbai wickets. I bowled in the good areas and got the rewards. I planned with Hardik to keep one slip in place. The ball was moving a bit and the idea was to keep bowling in the tight off stump channel,” Shami told broadcasters during the mid-innings break.
“If everyone contributes a bit, then it will be really good for the confidence of the players. We have done well to bundle out Australia for 188 and we should be able to chase it down. I get to know from the seam as to how well I am holding the ball.”
READ ALSO: