IND vs AUS, 1st ODI: Shami's fifer, Openers' fifties headline India win

India vs Australia 2023, 1st ODI: Mohammed Shami 5-51, Shubman Gill-Ruturaj Gaikwad's 142-runs stand and David Warner-Steven Smith's 94-run stand are top performances. India beat Australia by 5 wickets and lead series by 1-0.

Mohammed Shami gets POTM for his 5/51 vs AUS (Images: ©BCCI/Twitter)

Brief scores: India 281/5 (Shubman Gill 74, Ruturaj Gaikwad 71, Zampa 2/57) beats Australia 276 (Warner 52, Inglis 45) by 5 wickets.

Player of the Match: Mohammad Shami (5-51)

India played hosts to Australia for a 3-match ODI series in what is billed as a dress rehearsal before the ICC World Cup 2023, which is slated to happen next month.

Courtesy of some complete team performance, India tool the game by 5 wickets and lead the series 1-0 with 2 more games to go.

The home team rested a few players for the first 2 games of the series, with KL Rahul being the stand-in captain. He won the toss and opted to field on a hot afternoon at Mohali.

India's team missed a few regulars as did Australia, due to injury concerns. For India, Shreyas, who didn’t feature in a large part of the Asia Cup, got a game along with Suryakumar Yadav. R Ashwin, too, made a comeback in the format after close to 2 years.

Australia welcomed Steve Smith and skipper Patrick Cummins into their with Starc, and Maxwell continues to miss out.

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Talking points from India vs Australia, 1st ODI, Mohali

The main positive for India out of this win was the form of Suryakumar Yadav as he slammed his 3rd ODI half-century, and it came in a winning cause.

Surya strode to the crease when India needed 90 more runs needed, and a wicket would make Australia favorites here. But he played according to the situation along with KL Rahul and took the team home.

The other positive is Shami being among the wickets just before the World Cup. If it was Kuldeep and Siraj who picked 5 wicket haul in the Asia Cup, it’s Shami’s day out at Mohali.

India started off well, with Mohammad Shami capturing the wicket of Mitchell Marsh. But the experienced duo of Warner and Smith got the Aussie innings back on track, providing the impetus after a sedate start.

However, Jadeja provided the breakthrough as he pouched a well-set Warner, and Shami dismissed the other set batter in Smith. Ashwin, who proved expensive in his initial spell, bounced back strongly by stumping out Marnus Labuschagne for 39.

This meant Australia slowed down in the middle stages of the innings, and 300 looked a long way away. Josh Inglis, Pat Cummins, and Marcus Stoinis played quick-fire cameos Australia reached a respectable 276. Shami was India’s star as he picked his 2nd ODI five-wicket haul.

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Gill-Gaikwad added 143 runs for opening wicket against Australia (Images: ©BCCI/Twitter)

Gill-Gaikwad takes India off to a flyer

India started the chase strongly, with Shubman Gill continuing to impress and structured a stroke-filled half-century. He and new opener for the game, Ruturaj Gaikwad, who registered his maiden 50 in ODIs, added 142 for the first wicket. Both batters fell in their 70s, and another failure from Iyer meant India slipped to 151/3.

Skipper KL Rahul had the task of resurrecting the innings along with Ishan Kishan, but the latter got out at the wrong time, bringing the Aussies back into the game. The onus fell on Suryakumar to take India past the finish line, and the no.1 T20I batter finally came to the party in ODIs with a match-winning 50. Rahul played a patient captain’s knock of 58 as India stormed home by 5 wickets.

With this win, India became the No.1 ODI team in the world to go with their top spot in the other 2 formats.

Read More: After Virat Kohli, who’s India’s next chase master?

Top performers from India vs Australia, 1st ODI, Mohali

Warner-Smith added 94-run for 2nd wicket against India (Images: ©BCCI)

David Warner and Steve Smith shared an important 94-run stand for the 2nd wicket

Australia lost Mitchell Marsh early, and it was not easy initially to bat on. Warner had a few close moments and survived a dropped catch when on 14. He made India pay once he got into the groove, stroking a run a ball 50, signaling his good form.

He found an able ally in Steve Smith, whose experience was missed in South Africa, but he, the champion right-hander, played with ease, especially against Ashwin. Though he got out at 41, their stand will give much-needed confidence to Australia's management going into the World Cup.

Gill and Gaikwad stand to blow away Australia

Gaikwad, an upcoming Indian batter, got an opportunity to bat thanks to the absence of several keys and made the opportunity count. He played the fiddle to the aggrieved Shubman Gill, who seemed confident after a great Asia Cup outing.

They brought up their 50-run stand in the 9th over and continued to make merry with the inexperienced Australian attack post the first powerplay, bringing up India’s 4th 100-run opening stand in the last 8 games. Ruturaj Gaikwad fell after making a fine 71 off 77 balls, while Gill departed when he was on 74, but it gave the team a solid foundation for the chase.

Read More: Asia Cup 2023, IND vs BAN: Gill's century goes in vain, Bangladesh win

Shami took 5-51 against Australia (Images: ©BCCI/Twitter)

Mohammad Shami’s 5-fer bundles Australia

Mohammad Shami did his case no harm when it came to finding a place in the World Cup, playing 11 by becoming just the 3rd Indian pacer to pick a 5-fer against Australia in ODIs. The other 2 were Kapil Dev and Ajit Agarkar.

By the looks, Shami was not an automatic choice in India’s bowling attack, but he bowled with purpose here. After sniping out Marsh and Smith in his first 2 spells, Shami cleaned the lower-order middle-order of Australia.

What's next

The 2nd game of the series will be played at the Holker Stadium in Indore on Sunday. India will look to clinch the series, while Australia will be hoping to make a strong comeback.

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