New Delhi, Mar 13 (UNI) Kedar Jadhav and Bhuvneshwar Kumar's brilliant efforts were not enough to make up for a floundering top as India faced a 35-run defeat against Australia, losing the series 3-2, here at Feroz Shah Kotla on Wednesday.
This is India's first ODI home series defeat since 2015. On the other hand, this is Australia's first ODI victory in India in ten years.
Australia posted a 272 runs total before bowling India out for 237 runs in 50 overs. Australia lost first two matches but made a brilliant come back, winning their first ODI series since January 2017.
Usman Khawaja was adjourned Man of the Match and Man of the Series.
Chasing a challenging target of 273 runs, India got off to a bad start as Mohali centurian Shikhar Dhawan departed for 12 runs when the hosts' score was just 15 runs in 4.2 overs.
Rohit Sharma and skipper Virat Kohli tried to consolidate Indian innings as both added 53 runs for the second wicket. Alex Carey caught Kohli off Marcus Stoinis for 20 runs off 22 balls, sending shock waves in the Indian side. At Mohali too, skipper could have been scored seven runs.
Sharma (56), Rishabh Pant (16) and Vijay Shankar (16) got good start but they could not convert those innings in big scores.
leg-spinner Adam Zampa dismissed Ravindra Jadeja for a duck, reducing India to 132/6 in the 29th over.
Then, India got a glimpse of hope as Kedar Jadhav and Bhuvneshwar Kumar stitched together a partnership of crucial 91 runs off 103 balls for the seventh wicket, keeping India in the chase.
In 46th over, Pat Cummins bowled a slow delivery to Kumar, and he lofted the ball only to give a simple catch to skipper Aaron Finch.
Soon, Jadhav departed for 44 runs in the 47th over, as all hopes went in vain to seal the seventh ODI home series on trot.
Rohit Sharma was the highest run scorer for India with his 56 runs, followed by Jadhav's 44 runs.
Adam Zampa took three wickets, while Pat Cummins, Jhye Richardson and Marcus Stoinis bagged two wickets each.
Earlier, Australia won the toss and decided to bat first.
The visitors got off to a good start as man-in-form Usman Khawaja and skipper Aaron Finch put on a 76 runs for the first wicket stand.
All-rounder Ravinder Jadeja gave India their first breakthrough in the 15th over. He dismissed Finch for 27 runs off 43 balls.
Mohali centurian Peter Handscomb and left-handed Khawaja stitched together a 99 runs partnership for the second wicket, taking the score board to 175 runs in 33 overs. Meanwhile, Khawaja scored his second ODI ton. He was dismissed by Bhuvneshwar Kumar in 33rd over.
Soon, Glenn Maxwell departed for just 1 run in 34th over. He was caught by Kohli off Jadeja. Handscom got his eyes in but failed to convert his fifty in three figures as Rishabh Pant took his catch off Mohammed Shami for 52 runs, reducing the Aussies to 182/4 in 36.2 overs.
Previous match hero Ashton Turner was dismissed for just 20 runs off 20 balls. Ravindra Jadeja caught him at long-on reason off chinaman Kuldeep Yadav in 41st over.
Then, the Aussies kept losing their wickets at regular intervals and could score 272 runs in stipulated 50 overs.
Left-handed Khawaja was the highest run-getter from the visiting side, followed by Handscom with his 52 runs innings.
Kumar was the highest wicket-taker from India as he bagged three wickets for 48 runs in his 10-over quota. While Shami 9 overs (57/2) and Jadeja (10 overs 45/2) took two wickets each.
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