RESULT
1st ODI (D/N), Wankhede, March 17, 2023, Australia tour of India
(39.5/50 ov, T:189) 191/5

India won by 5 wickets (with 61 balls remaining)

Player Of The Match
45* (69) & 2/46
ravindra-jadeja
New
IND
Full commentary

9.05pm That's it for tonight. Thanks for joining. We will be back with the next ODI in two days.

8.55pm Time for the presentation. Ravindra Jadeja is the Player of the Match. A spinner in a seam-dominated ODI. He says, and this is not verbatim: "Playing ODI cricket after eight months, I was just looking to adapt to the format as early as possible. Luckily I got two wickets, and with the bat I was only looking to build a partnership with KL. We were playing Test cricket so the line and length is different here. You can't keep bowling one pace. I was just looking to bowl in good areas. Also I was getting a little bit of turn, so I thought I need to bowl in the right areas and the wicket will do the rest."

Hardik Pandya says, and this is not verbatim: "We were under pressure in both the innings, but we kept our composure, and found ways to come out of those situations. When we got the momentum our way, we didn't let it go. I am really proud the way we played today. Jaddu did what he was supposed to do coming back after eight months away from ODIs. I enjoyed my bowling and batting, would have loved to finish it off, but the way KL and Jaddu batted, it was calming to those watching from the outside."

Steve Smith says, and this is not verbatim: "We weren't expecting this when we rocked up here. India bowled well this morning, but we probably left a few out there. Had we got 250, we would have had some match. Mitch started really well. He took the game on early, and got a few away. Through the middle we lost a few too many wickets. We were always one partnership from them beating us, and Jadeja and Rahul did that. 260-270 was par. It was offering a fair bit for the seamers. The ball swung pretty much throughout. We just needed to score more runs. If we had got a partnership and take it deeper. It was not to be, and credit to India."

8.48pm That Rahul has been interviewed already probably means he will not be the Player of the Match. There are four other performers left: Shami, Jadeja, Marsh and Starc. The last of them can probably be left out for now. It is between Shami, Jadeja and Marsh, but very rarely do we see a Player of the Match from the losing side. We will find out soon

Sena: "So the two best teams in the world cricket today failed to asses the pitch correctly."

Bleeding Blue: "Fab comeback from Jaddu into ODI format after a long break. Not easy to come in and do well after an injury break. Well done Jaddu, can't wait to see you in Yellow. "

8.43pm KL Rahul says, and this is not verbatim: "Three wickets had gone down, and Starc was swinging the ball. He is dangerous when it is moving. I gave myself some time, not go searching for runs. I was fortunate I got a couple of boundaries early on. Whoever I batted with, the talk was that there is a bit of help in the wicket, but we can't go into our shell and look to play out a certain bowler. We wanted to run hard, we wanted to put the loose balls away. The minute a left-hander walked in, I got a few loose balls too. That happens to the best of bowlers. Jaddu batted beautifully, he is in great form, and he knows what to do in those situations. When we started off, I didn't think the pitch was going to help the bowlers that much. The minute Shami came back in, he did wonders. Any team that wants to win needs to pick wickets in the middle over. I enjoyed my keeping. When there is bounce, I enjoy it. When it is slow and slow, it is challenging physically."

8.38pm An early end to the night with a little over 75 overs of cricket played. The pitch had some spice in it, but Mitch Marsh made it look much easier when he batted. It was a truly sensational innings of 81 off 65. However, Australia perhaps misread the conditions because of that, and kept looking for quick runs once Marsh got out. Also possibly the composition of their attack - just three full-time bowlers - pushed them to go harder. Shami and Siraj bowled beautifully once Jadeja got Marsh out. Had Australia got to 250, this would have been a thriller because the ball did more for them in the first 15-20 overs under the lights. In the end, India didn't have the pressure of the asking rate, and KL Rahul took it upon himself to see India through from 16 for 3. Australia were left to wonder what if they had got 50 more runs or if they had an extra specialist fast bowler. Hang in to read from the presentation.

39.5
4
Starc to Jadeja, FOUR runs

Jadeja finishes it with a final flourish. Again too full, and this time he muscles it through midwicket for four

39.4
Starc to Jadeja, no run

yorker, on off, dug out to mid-off

39.3
4
Starc to Jadeja, FOUR runs

half-volley on the pads, Jadeja allows himself a flourish finally. Flicks it over square leg for four

39.2
Starc to Jadeja, no run

still seaming. Left alone outside off

39.1
1
Starc to Rahul, 1 run

looks for a big hit down the ground, gets a thick inside edge for one. That's hundred for this stand

39.1
1w
Starc to Rahul, 1 wide

wide down the leg side. Inglis dives to his left for a good take

India's ask in single digits now

end of over 395 runs
IND: 181/5CRR: 4.64 RRR: 0.72 • Need 8 runs from 66b
KL Rahul74 (90b 7x4 1x6)
Ravindra Jadeja37 (65b 3x4)
Sean Abbott 9-0-31-0
Mitchell Starc 9-0-39-3
38.6
1
Abbott to Rahul, 1 run

drop and run as he pushes this straight of the short straight midwicket

38.5
2
Abbott to Rahul, 2 runs

still seaming on occasion, runs off the inside half of the bat for two

38.4
Abbott to Rahul, no run

slower ball, he opens the face on it, but the slip makes a diving save to his right

38.3
1
Abbott to Jadeja, 1 run

wide length ball, punched to deep extra cover for another single

38.2
Abbott to Jadeja, no run

on a length, good zip off the surface, but he has left it alone outside off

38.1
1
Abbott to Rahul, 1 run

a touch too straight, and he is picked off to long leg for one

end of over 383 runs
IND: 176/5CRR: 4.63 RRR: 1.08 • Need 13 runs from 72b
KL Rahul70 (86b 7x4 1x6)
Ravindra Jadeja36 (63b 3x4)
Mitchell Starc 9-0-39-3
Sean Abbott 8-0-26-0
37.6
1
Starc to Rahul, 1 run

not much width but gets the length to be able to cut it to deep cover for one

37.5
Starc to Rahul, no run

short of a length, good bounce, Rahul fends it down

37.4
Starc to Rahul, no run

on a length, not much movement, pushed to mid-off

NethraReya: "How can India lose a match when Superstar Rajnikanth is watching from the stands. Memories of 2011 WC finals. "

37.3
1
Starc to Jadeja, 1 run

on a length, Jadeja forward is defence, and he makes it a drop and run

"36.5 - What was Labuschagne trying there though? a cheeky runout? " Ajith, that's one way of looking at it. Another way is that Jadeja should not leave the crease before the ball is dead

37.2
1
Starc to Rahul, 1 run

punches this to mid-off, and runs through. The man is right at the edge of the circle

37.1
Starc to Rahul, no run

on a length, on off, defended

Starc comes back

end of over 376 runs
IND: 173/5CRR: 4.67 RRR: 1.23 • Need 16 runs from 78b
KL Rahul68 (81b 7x4 1x6)
Ravindra Jadeja35 (62b 3x4)
Sean Abbott 8-0-26-0
Adam Zampa 6-0-37-0
36.6
1
Abbott to Rahul, 1 run

pushes this into a gap for a single

36.5
1
Abbott to Jadeja, 1 run

short of a length, no room, Jadeja looks to drop and run, but is sent back. However, they do get an overthrow as Labuschagne has a throw because Jadeja has left the crease before the ball is dead

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