Image Source- AP
Do not let the convincing nature of the final scorecard
fool you. This was a right and mighty pickle of a conundrum for India, who
surged to victory after what was nothing short of a diabolical start that
threatened to waste the brilliant work of the bowlers in the first innings. Chasing
200, India were well and truly pummeled at 2/3, but Virat Kohli and KL Rahul
walked in and joined hands in what was a professional and chanceless 173-run
stand to steer India to victory.
We take a look at the talking points in what was a tantalizing
contest between two powerhouses
India’s spin web
It was no surprise that on a pitch like Chepauk that
always has a soft spot for the spinners, India opted with a combination that
included 3 spinners. And the triumvirate of Ashwin, Jadeja, and Kuldeep spun an
almighty web around the Aussies.
In their combined quota of 30 overs, the trio gave
away just 94 runs, and scalped 6 wickets. Jadeja led the way with 3 wickets,
Kuldeep should have had more than the 2 he took, while Ashwin was his customary
stifling self, barely giving away anything to the Aussie batters.
To put things into context, before the spinners came on,
Steve Smith was going on at a strike rate of close to 100, but ended his
innings at a S/R of just about 65. None of the Aussie batters were able to get
any sort of freedom against the spin trio. With England playing India in
Lucknow later in the tournament, this performance will have sent warnings
towards the English camp.
Australia’s middle-order woes continue
After 26 overs, Australia were actually doing decent
enough. They were 109/2, with Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne understanding
the conditions well to lay down a foundation for the power-hitters like Glenn Maxwell
and Cameron Green.
However, as was the case with Australia’s middle order
in the last 8 games, Australia just crumbled and the good work was put to
waste. In this game, Australia went from 109/2 to 140/7, losing 5 wickets in
the space of just 31 runs. The sheer frequency of the collapses that are taking
place is a real cause of concern, with Alex Carey not exactly firing and the
likes of Green and Maxwell still not up to speed. Cummins and his men will have
to take some tough calls to address this middle-order problem.
The Kohli-KL show
India walked in to bat fancying their chances of a
convincing win considering the fact that each of their top 5 batters in fine
fettle. But at 2/3, it was panic stations and flashbacks to 2019, where India
were in a similar situation.
However, up stepped two batters who know a thing or
two about playing on such wickets and such situations. Virat Kohli and KL Rahul
began a rebuild job in the most precarious of situations. One mistake from
either and it would have been a long evening, and had Mitchell Marsh held on to
that Kohli chance with the score at 20, it would have been a different story.
But once that was done, both batsmen played some of the most chanceless and perfect
cricket shots to slowly but steadily put the pressure back on Australia.
Once both were well and truly set, out came the
drives, the flicks and the quality shots. Add to that the exemplary running
between the wickets, both of them were the chief architects of this victory.