India vs Australia, 3rd ODI: Rohit Sharma's ton seals series for Virat Kohli and Co

Bengaluru: Rohit Sharma struck his 29th ODI ton and captain Virat Kohli scored 89 as India clinched the third one day game by seven wickets over Australia and with it won the series 2-1 on Sunday (January 19).

At Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium, India coasted to victory in 47.3 overs, successfully chasing down 287. The hosts scored 289/3.

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It was a remarkable comeback by the Kohli-led side after losing the series opener in Mumbai by 10 wickets. India won back-to-back matches under pressure to seal the series.

Rohit hit 119 off 128 balls with eight fours and six sixes. Kohli made 89 off 91 balls with eight fours. In the end, Shreyas Iyer remained unbeaten on 44 off 35 balls with six fours and a six. Manish Pandey ended the game with a boundary and he was not out on eight.

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KL Rahul returned to the opening position as Shikhar Dhawan was injured during fielding and did not bat. Rahul made 19. The day belonged to Rohit and Kohli in batting and Mohammed Shami with the ball.

India were always in control of the run chase. Rohit and Rahul put on 69 for the first wicket and then Rohit-Kohli added 137 for the second wicket to put the team on road to victory.

Earlier, India restricted Australia to a below-par 286/9 despite Steve Smith’s excellent century in the series-deciding third ODI.

After winning the toss and electing to bat first on a dry pitch, the visitors did not have a good start as opener David Warner fell cheaply, for three, in the fourth over. Warner, who hit a century in the series opener in Mumbai, was caught by wicketkeeper Rahul off Shami.

Captain Aaron Finch was run out for 19 after a mix-up with his partner Smith. Finch was livid with Smith as he headed back to the pavilion.

With two early setbacks inside the first nine overs, it was left to Smith and Marnus Labuschagne to rebuild the innings. Both brought up their half centuries and were involved in a 126-run stand for the third wicket.

It was all going well for the visitors when Smith and Labuschagne were in the middle. However, India skipper Virat Kohli broke the partnership with a stunning one-handed catch off Ravindra Jadeja.

Labuschagne fell to Kohli’s brilliance, for 54 off 64, his maiden half century in ODIs. Indian bowlers, from here on, staged a comeback with tight bowling and never allowed Smith and the lower order to play big shots. Mitchell Starc as promoted to No. 5 but that move did not work as he fell for a duck, to Jadeja.

Smith registered his ninth ODI hundred, off 117 balls. Even though he accelerated after his personal milestone, he fell in the 48th over to Shami. Smith returned to the hutch for 131 off 132 balls with 14 fours and one six. During his innings, Smith also completed 4,000 runs in ODIs.

Shami was India’s most successful bowler with 4/63 in 10 overs. Jasprit Bumrah was the most economical with 0/38 in 10 overs. Jadeja took 2/44 while Kuldeep Yadav and Navdeep Saini took one scalp each.

Earlier, India received an injury blow when Shikhar Dhawan had to walk off the field after hurting his left shoulder. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said he had gone for an x-ray and his condition will be assessed later.

“Shikhar Dhawan has gone for an X-Ray. A call on him being available for the game will be taken once he is back & assessed,” the BCCI said.