Following his side’s 99-run loss to India in the second ODI, Australia skipper Steve Smith said that having lost five matches in a row ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup in October, his side needs to work on a few things.
India outplayed Australia with both bat and ball to clinch the three-match ODI series 2-0 after winning the second match by 99 runs through the DLS method at the Holkar Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
“When we came here, it looked a good wicket, changed a little bit. Credit to India; they batted beautifully… 400 was always a big challenge. I have seen games here before, and they’ve looked good for chasing. We were a fair way off. We have lost quite a few in a row now. World Cups are about peaking at the right time, and we certainly haven’t done that at this stage. A few things to sort out. We know we are a good side. Both teams are working towards the World Cup but still want to win games,” said Smith in a post-match presentation.
Coming to the match, India was put to bat first by Australia. A 200-run partnership for the second wicket between Shubman Gill (104 in 97 balls, six fours, and four sixes) and Shreyas Iyer (105 in 90 balls, 11 fours, and three sixes) laid the foundation for something big. Later, half-centuries from skipper KL Rahul (52 in 38 balls with three fours and three sixes) and Suryakumar Yadav (72* in 37 balls with six fours and six sixes) and a cameo from Ishan Kishan (31 in 18 balls with two fours and two sixes) pushed India to 399/5 in 50 overs.