Australia has left India with their heads held high after winning the One Day International (ODI) series 2-1, giving them the world number one ranking in one-day cricket. Despite their recent struggles in white ball cricket, the team managed to quickly reset, rebound and ultimately dominate in India, sealing the series with a 21-run win in Chennai under stand-in skipper Steve Smith.
It was India’s first defeat in an ODI series on home soil since Australia beat them four years ago. Mitchell Marsh, who was named Man of the Series, led the scoring with 194 runs at an average of 97.00, while Adam Zampa was named Man of the Match with a four-wicket haul. Australia covered well for the absence of bereaved regular captain Pat Cummins and veteran opener David Warner for the first two matches.
Australia’s ability to focus on winning games for their country instead of getting ahead of themselves is what makes them a force to be reckoned with. “I think in World Cup years, it can be very easy to look too far ahead,” said all-rounder Mitchell Marsh. “But we really wanted to be focused on this series and make sure that our focus was winning games for Australia.”
With the World Cup just around the corner, Australia’s confidence is high as they head back to the subcontinent. As five-time champions in the 50-over World Cup, they are a team to watch out for. Despite the absence of Cummins and Warner, the team proved they have depth and talent, giving selectors a reason to be buoyed by the performance of Ashton Agar in Chennai. The left-arm spinner turned the game on its head by removing Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav in successive deliveries after being overlooked by selectors throughout the entire four-test series, which India won 2-1.
Australia’s victory over India is a testament to their resilience and ability to perform under pressure. Mitchell Marsh spoke highly of his teammate Ashton Agar, saying “Ash is one of my closest mates and he’s one of the most resilient characters that I know. And that’s why he’s been able to come in and perform whenever he plays for Australia.” With a team spirit like that, it’s no wonder Australia is leaving India with their heads held high, ready to take on the world in the upcoming World Cup.
