India hit record 100-plus opening stands in a year

Rohit's century habit
Rohit Sharma hit his sixth century against Australia in the fifth ODI. Now only Sachin Tendulkar, with nine centuries, has scored more hundreds against Australia. Desmond Haynes also hit six centuries. Both Tendulkar and Haynes played over 50 more ODIs versus Australia compared to Rohit's 28 innings so far. Virat Kohli is next with five centuries in 26 innings. Rohit has hit centuries in each series (two or three teams) against Australia since his comeback in 2012.

Record 100-plus opening stands
After adding just 11 and 19 runs for the first wicket in first two ODIs, Rohit and Ajinkya Rahane hit century partnerships in each of the last three ODIs. This was the first instance of India having 100-plus opening stands in three consecutive ODIs.

This was India's eighth century partnership for the first wicket in 28 innings 2017, a new record for most century stands in a year for any team. The previous record was also by India - seven each in 2002 and 2007. Among other teams, the record is six by South Africa in 2007 and New Zealand in 2015.

Spin superior
Undoubtedly the spinners play a major role in matches in subcontinent. It was no different in this series. India's spin numbers were way better than the Australia's. The home side's slow bowlers picked up 18 wickets at average of 31.77 whereas the visitors' could manage only five wickets at 81.80. India's spinners took a wicket about every six overs compared to Australia's 12-overs-plus.

There were three three-wicket hauls by India spinners - one each by Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel. Only once an Australia spinner struck more than once in any game. Australia played just one frontline spinner in their various line-ups. Adam Zampa played three games and Ashton Agar two.

The fast-bowling numbers weren't too different from each other. India's quicks picked up 20 wickets at 30.45 and Australia's 24 at 39.50.

Pandya power
India found a new match-winner in Hardik Pandya in this series. With 222 runs and six wickets, he was adjudged the Player of the Series. He was the Man of the Match in two of the first three games by which time India had won the series. The last India player to score over 200 runs and take five or more wickets in a bilateral series was Yuvraj Singh against England in 2008-09. He was the third highest run-getter in the series for the home side and was the second-highest six-hitter overall.

Australia's collapses
The visitors did get good starts on most occasions, but they couldn't capitalise on them. Leaving aside the first game in which the second innings was shortened to 21 overs by rain, they had collapses in each of the next four ODIs. The two worst were instances of them going from 224 for 1 to 293 for 6 in the third ODI, and from 205 for 4 to 242 for 9 in the last ODI.

Kohli's rare century miss
Virat Kohli couldn't manage a century in this series. How rare is that? The last time he failed to get a century in any bilateral ODI series of five or more games was way back in January 2013 against England at home. He came close once here, with a 92 in the second ODI at Eden Gardens. But in the other four games he could add only 88 runs, totalling 180 runs at an average of 36. The last time he averaged lower than this in any bilateral series at home was against Pakistan in 2012-13.