The Australians took an invincible 2-0 lead in the ODI series, following victory in the opening match by a margin of 66 runs against the Indians. Australia scored 389 runs for the loss of four wickets, after winning the toss and opting to bat in the second ODI. Australia defeated India by 51 runs in the second ODI at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Steve Smith scored his 11th ODI century, making it two consecutive tons for the Australian batsman.
David Warner, Glenn Maxwell, Marnus Labuschagne, and Aaron Finch bagged half-centuries as Indian bowlers suffered once again even with the sixth bowling options. India failed to clinch any wickets in the first 20 overs in the first ODI match, repeatedly in the second ODI. Early wickets have not been easy for India in both ODIs but for the best possible outcome Indian Skipper will have to rely on his best bowler; Jasprit Bumrah.
Gautam Gambhir Questions Virat Kohli’s Tactical Awareness Once Again
Former opener Gautam Gambhir feels that Indian skipper Virat Kohli has committed a huge error at the start of the match which no captain would have done, by giving his go-to bowler Jasprit Bumrah just a two-over opening spell in the series-conceding second ODI loss to Australia in Sydney.
Gambhir, who has been questioning a lot of Kohli’s tactical awareness as captain, felt that the difference between the two sides so far was how Australian captain Aaron Finch handled his most successful pacer Josh Hazlewood in the first two ODIs.
“I find it difficult to comprehend that if you have a bowler of Jasprit Bumrah’s caliber and you give him only two overs upfront. It’s not a tactical mistake but a tactical blunder,” Gambhir said in ESPNCricinfo’s Match Day Hindi.
He continued, “I was expecting Bumrah and Shami to bowl five-over spells each upfront and tried getting a couple of wickets each. So, I don’t think there is any captain in world cricket who would give Jasprit Bumrah, two overs with the new ball and you give him 2 overs and bring him after 10 overs when the ball is a tad old and it gets warmer and you expect him to get wickets in these conditions. He is human too,”
