New Delhi: India carried their brilliant form from the Sri Lanka tour by thrashing Australia by 26 runs in the rain-truncated ODI series opener at Chepauk on Sunday.


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It was a sweet result for Virat Kohli & Co for more than couple of results, one being that of Mahendra Singh Dhoni's presence, the brilliance of Hardik Pandya as an upcoming all-rounder, and also the self belief that a seemingly young bowling line-up has shown.


India won the toss and batted first. But India witnessed a horrendous top-order collapse, including a duck for skipper Kohli. But Dhoni and Pandya revived the innings. Then rain came down.


The match was reduced to 21 overs due to rain with Aussies chasing a 164-run target. But Indian bowlers made sure that the visitors get only the walking orders in front of a boisterous Chennai crowd.( Scorecard )


AUSTRALIA INNINGS; TARGET 164


Overs 21 || Score 137/9 || Faulkner 32 (25); Zampa 5 (4)


Jasprit Bumrah conceded only seven runs in the last over to set up a 26-run win for India in the series opener.


Overs 20 || Score 130/9 || Faulkner 30 (21); Zampa 1 (2)


Bhuvneshwar Kumar produced one brilliant penultimate over. He got rid off Coulter-Nile, then conceded only five runs from his fourth over. Aussies now need 34 runs with 1 wicket and 6 balls remaining.


WICKET: Coulter-Nile c Kedar Jadhav b Bhuvneshwar 2(5)


Adam Zampa is the last man for Australia.


Overs 19 || Score 125/8 || Faulkner 27 (18); Coulter-Nile 2 (4)


Jasprit Bumrah produced one tidy over, conceding only seven runs. It's beyond the Aussies now. They need another 39 runs from 12 balls.


Overs 18 || Score 118/8 || Faulkner 21 (15); Coulter-Nile 1 (1)


Yuzvendra Chahal removed Pat Cummins off the very first ball of the  over. India two wickets away from the win.


WICKET: Pat Cummins c Bumrah b Chahal 9(7)


New man Nathan Coulter-Nile joined Faulkner, who hit a six off the second ball. Nine runs and a wicket from the over.


Overs 17 || Score 109/7 || Faulkner 13 (11); Cummins 9 (6)


Bhuvneshwar Kumar returned for his third over, and leaked 12 runs as Pat Cummins hit the fourth ball for a four. But Australia still need another 55 runs from 24 balls.


Overs 16 || Score 97/7 || Faulkner 6 (7); Cummins 3 (3)


Aussies in deep trouble in Chennai. MS Dhoni has just completed one of his easier stumpings, thanks to a Yuzvendra Chahal delivery, to dismiss Wade.


WICKET: Wade st Dhoni b Chahal 9(11)


It happened off the third ball. Pat Cummins is the new batsman.


In the previous over, Hardik Pandya conceded only seven runs to keep the pressure on the Aussies.


Overs 14 || Score 84/6 || Wade 6 (6); Faulkner 2 (3)


India continued to tighten the screw. Yuzvendra Chahal conceded six runs in his third over. But he was unlucky not to have the wicket of Wade, who was dropped off the second ball. He was to blame for it.


Overs 13 || Score 78/6 || Wade 1 (2); Faulkner 1 (1)


Another successfull over for India as Kuldeep Yadav ended Marcus Stoinis' misery.


WICKET: Stoinis c (sub) Jadeja b Kuldeep 3(10)


That happened off the third ball. A desperate Stoinis tried to slog sweep, but ended up offering a catch thanks to a top-edge.


Overs 12 || Score 76/5 || Stoinis 3 (7); Wade 0 (0)


Glenn Maxwell continued to smoke, but unluckily for him, he got high this time, and ended up offering a catch.


WICKET: Maxwell c M Pandey b Chahal 39 (18)


That happened off the last ball of the over, just after hitting a six. Matthew Wade is the new batsman for Australia.


Overs 11 || Score 69/4 || Maxwell 33 (13); Stoinis 2 (6)


One huge over for Australia with Glenn Maxwell toying with Kuldeep Yadav. Four off the second ball, then three successive sixes, making it a 22-run over. Australia still need another 95 runs from 60 balls.


Overs 10 || Score 47/4 || Maxwell 11 (7); Stoinis 2 (6)


Bowling change for India. Virat Kohli introduced Yuzvendra Chahal. And soon, the spinner got into the action, asking lots of questions to the Aussie Marcus Stoinis. Off the second ball, Dhoni produced a stumping, but the umpire denied. It was followed by couple of close calls. Only two runs from the over.


In the previous over, Maxwell hit Hardik Pandya for two fours.


Overs 8 || Score 35/4 || ; Maxwell 1 (1)


Kuldeep in for his second over. Last ball, ripper of a leg break, thick outside edge and Dhoni is the man. David Warner is the man to depart. What is wrong with Australia?


Overs 7 || Score 31/3 || David Warner 21 (22) ; Maxwell 1 (1)


Pandya back in to send back Travis Head. Length delivery, swung it across the stumps to the off side. Head looking fgor a cut, edged it to Dhoni and that was the end of No.4 batsman. Australia in deep trouble while Pandya is enjoying the moment of his life. Glenn Maxwell walked in next. Six runs from the over.  


Overs 6 || Score 25/2 || David Warner 17 (19) ; Head 4 (4)


Travis Head walked in next as Virat Kohli introduced Kuldeep Yadav early into the game. Five runs from the over.  


Overs 5 || Score 20/2 || David Warner 16 (17) ;


Hardik Pandya in for his first over. Last ball, mistimed shot and he fired it staright up in the air off the leading edge of the bat. Bumrah waited, turned and grabbed it comfortbaly. Steve Smith departed.  


Overs 4 || Score 15/1 || David Warner 12 (15) ; Smith 0 (1)


Bumrah continued in. Fifth ball, little up the length, slanted in as the ball sneaked through bat and pads to castle down the off stump. Absolute Stunner! Sensational ball! Cartwright fails to shine on his debut. Just two runs from it.  


Overs 3 || Score 13/0 || David Warner 11 (12) ; Catwright 1 (6)


Bhuvi in for his second over. Third ball, length delivery edged to Virat at slip and he failed to pluck a stunner. Hilton Catwright saved as he got a single off it. Fourth ball, Warner flicked the lengfth delivery off his pad for a boundary to fine leg. Six runs from the over.  


Overs 2 || Score 7/0 || David Warner 6 (8) ; Catwright 0 (4)


Jasprit Bumrah stepped in next to share the new ball. Was splendid during the Sri anka series. And Warner punched a boundary poff the first delivery. Five runs from the over.  


Overs 1 || Score 2/0 || David Warner 1 (6) ; Catwright 0 (0)


Openers David Warner and debutant Hilton Catwright steps in to start off proceedings for the Aussies after rain reduced target to 164 runs for the visitors. Bhuvneshwar Kumar warms up with the new ball. Just two runs from it.  


Finally, match to resume within few minutes. Revised target for Australia: 164 in 21 overs.  Powerplay 1: 1-4, P2: 5-17, P3: 18-21


Match reduced to 37 overs and target for Australia is 238 runs. Openers stepped in. The Stage is set and.....oh god! Its raining again. 



Overs 50 || Score 281/7 || Bhuvneshwar 32 (30) ; Kuldeep 0 (0)


Final six deliveries to go. Dhoni on strike, Faulkner with the ball. First ball, pull, no fielder and boundary. What a start! And a no ball too. Got no run. Six on the second ball. Ramped it over long-off and crowd goes berserk. And catch out! Warner in the deep and off goes Dhoni. Bhuvi takes on proceedings and boundary down fine leg. 


Overs 49 || Score 266/6 || Bhuvneshwar 28 (28) ; Dhoni 69 (83)


Cummins in for his final over. Four runs from the over


Overs 48 || Score 262/6 || Bhuvneshwar 25 (23) ; Dhoni 68 (52)


Faulkner in now. Third ball, boundary down fine leg. Fifth ball, six ramped over extra cover. Dhoni on fire! Rampaging through in the fag end of their innings. And a boundary to finsih the innings. 16 from the over. 


Overs 47 || Score 246/6 || Bhuvneshwar 24 (22) ; Dhoni 53 (77)


Cummins back into tyhe attack now. Dhoni completes his ODI fifty, his 100th international fifty. Six runs from the over. 


Overs 46 || Score 240/6 || Bhuvneshwar 22 (19) ; Dhoni 49 (74)


Coulter-Nile in for his final over and got punished by Bhuvi with two back-to-back boundaries. One over long-on and the other off a lucky inside edge. He looks confident! 12 from the over. 


Overs 45 || Score 228/6 || Bhuvneshwar 11 (15) ; Dhoni 48 (72)


Stoinis fior his final over. Second ball, smmied down the track and pulled the shorter delivery over mid-on for a boundary. He sure can hit! Seven from the over. 


Overs 44 || Score 221/6 || Bhuvneshwar 6 (11) ; Dhoni 47 (70)


Coulter-Nile for his penultimate over and Dhoni went for a boundary down fine leg off the second delivery. Eight runs from the over. 


Overs 43 || Score 213/6 || Bhuvneshwar 5 (10) ; Dhoni 40 (65)


Zampa for his final over. Fifth ball, full toss from the spinner as Bhuvi dispatched it through midwicket for a boundary. Seven from the over. 


Overs 42 || Score 206/6 || Bhuvneshwar 0 (5) ; Dhoni 38 (63)


Coulter-Nile returns to attack but India in trouble as no batsman left. Dhoni has to stick to the crease and Bhuvi has to produce yet another reviving innings that he had produced against Sri Lanka. Just a single from the over. 


Overs 41 || Score 205/6 || Bhuvneshwar 0 (1) ; Dhoni 37 (62)


Zampa in as Umpire signalled. Six and then out. Pandya departs trying to slog. Bhuvneshwar Kumar steps in next. 


Overs 40 || Score 198/5 || Pandya 77 (62) ; Dhoni 36 (61)


Stoinis for his ninth over and punished with a six off the very first delivery. Pandya again, slogged it over long-on as Sehwag, and Co. in commentary box looked in astonishment.100-run stand too. And thus, his highest score in ODIs. 12 from the over. 


Overs 39 || Score 181/5 || Pandya 69 (59) ; Dhoni 32 (58)


Faulkner for his eighth too. This was the third instance for Hardik where he struck a hat-trick of sixes, and all three to spinners. Eight off the over. 


Overs 38 || Score 178/5 || Pandya 63 (55) ; Dhoni 30(56)


Cummins in for his eighth over. Third ball, shorter delivery and swung to the leg side as Hardik pulled it hard over backward square-leg for a boundary. Six from the over. 


Overs 37 || Score 172/5 || Pandya 58 (50) ; Dhoni 29 (55)


Zampa in for his eighth over. Four and a six and then another six. Hardik on fire and seems all set to bolster India's faltering score at Chidambaram. Six again! Hattrick! Its Champions Trophy all over again. 24 runs from the over. Pandya notched up his fifty too.


Overs 36 || Score 148/5 || Pandya 35 (45) ; Dhoni 28 (54)


Cummins now back into the attack. He is in his seventh over. Pandya gets a single off the first ball. Just two runs off the over.


Overs 35 || Score 146/5 || Pandya 34 (41) ; Dhoni 27 (52)


Zampa comes on. No wickets for him but an economy rate of under four. He is in his seventh over here.


Overs 34 || Score 143/5 || Pandya 32 (38) ; Dhoni 26 (49)


Stoinis in his eighth over now. Two wickets in his kitty as both batsmen batting smartly. Picking the ones and the twos and not taking any major chances.


Overs 33 || Score 139/5 || Pandya 30 (35) ; Dhoni 24 (46)


Zamoa now comes in. He is in his sixth over. Has an economy rate of about four. 50-run stand between these two now.


Overs 32 || Score 133/5 || Pandya 27 (32) ; Dhoni 21 (43)


Stoinis comes in again. He has two wickets in his bag. He is is his seventh over.


Overs 31 || Score 125/5 || Pandya 25 (28) ; Dhoni 20 (41)


Faulkner to Pandya for a fresh over and two runs off the first ball of the over. Now cut away for a single towards third man for another single by Pandya.


Overs 30 || Score 121/5 || Pandya 22 (24) ; Dhoni 19 (39)


India's run-rate is just over four as Coulter-Nile comes in for a fresh over. He is in his seventh over now as captain Smith trying really hard for a wicket.


Overs 29 || Score 118/5 || Pandya 20 (21) ; Dhoni 18 (36)


Faulkner continues as three dot balls first up. Dhoni the man on strike. Dhoni looking for his 100th half-century in international cricket.


Overs 28 || Score 118/5 || Pandya 20 (21) ; Dhoni 18 (30)


Coulter-Nile again, he has five overs remaining in the bag. The standout performer in the game today. Outside edge and passes Steve Smith at first slip.


Overs 27 || Score 110/5 || Pandya 13 (16) ; Dhoni 17 (29)


Faulkner again, in his fifth over here. Pandya picking a single off the first ball. Just three singles of another quiet over.


Overs 26 || Score 107/5 || Pandya 11 (14) ; Dhoni 16 (25)


Stoinis again, he is in his sixth over now. Pandya picking three runs off the first two balls.


Overs 25 || Score 104/5 || Pandya 8 (12) ; Dhoni 16 (21)


Faulkner now coming in for his fourth over. He is also under slight pressure as he is looking for a permanent place in the Aussie line-up. Has been in and out of the team the all-rounder.


Overs 24 || Score 102/5 || Pandya 7 (9) ; Dhoni 15 (18)


Stoinis is in his fifth over as he charges in to Dhoni. The Indian wicketkeeper picks three off the second ball of the over. Three wickets for Coulter-Nile and two for Stoinis. Pandya meanwhile gets another boundary.


Overs 23 || Score 95/5 || Pandya 3 (5) ; Dhoni 12 (16)


This is the last recognised pair out there as Zampa continues. It is good back up bowling here by Stoinis and Zampa.


Overs 22 || Score 90/5 || Pandya 2 (3) ; Dhoni 8 (12)


Stoinis to continue. He is in his fourth over. And this is Stoinis into the act again as Jadhav goes. He hits one straight to midwicket. Commentators say it is a bad shot. Jadhav making 40.


Overs 21 || Score 86/4 || Kedar 40 (53) ; Dhoni 7 (10)


Zampa in for his fourth over. Just two singles from it.  


Overs 20 || Score 84/4 || Kedar 39 (48) ; Dhoni 6 (9)


Cummins in for his sixth over. Just four runs from the over.  


Overs 19 || Score 80/4 || Kedar 36 (43) ; Dhoni 6 (8)


Zampa in for his third over. Well, its a bit cloudy there at Chennai and the floodlights are on. Three runs from the over.  


Overs 18 || Score 77/4 || Kedar 35 (41) ; Dhoni 4 (4)


Cummins back in for his second spell. Third ball, length delivery, edged by Kedar and the ball went well past Smith at slip for a boundary at third man. Six runs from the over.  


Overs 17 || Score 71/4 || Kedar 30 (37) ; Dhoni 3 (2)


Zampa in for his second over. Kedar slapped a boundary off the fourth ball, simply fired it through midwicket for a four. Seven off the over.


Overs 16 || Score 64/4 || Kedar 25 (32)


Stoinis in. Punished with a boundary off the fourth ball but the pacer avenges thirst by dismissing the Hitman. Last ball, shorter and swung it in as Rohit pulled it hard over square-leg, but the ball failed to travel the distance and instead found Coulter-Nile in the deep. India in big, big trouble.  


Overs 15 || Score 59/3 || Kedar 25 (32) ; Rohit 24 (39)


After ample pace attack that removed three formidale Indian batsmen, Stev Smith calls forth spin. Adam Zampa in for his first over. Just two singles form the over.  


Overs 14 || Score 57/3 || Kedar 24 (31) ; Rohit 23 (24)


Stoinis in for his second over. Gives away six singles.  


Overs 13 || Score 51/3 || Kedar 21 (28) ; Rohit 20 (31)


Faulkner for his third over. Second ball, short and wide and cut for a four. Kedar seems to be slowly building on an innings to revive India's faltering innings. Fifth ball, short again and Rohit ramped the ball over the umpire for a four. 50-up for India.  


Overs 12 || Score 41/3 || Kedar 16 (26) ; Rohit 16 (27)


Change in attack as Marcus Stoinis stepped in for his first over. Three singles from the over.


Overs 11 || Score 38/3 || Kedar 15 (22) ; Rohit 14 (25)


Faulkner inj for his second over. Four runs from the over.  


Overs 10 || Score 34/3 || Kedar 14 (18) ; Rohit 12 (22)


Coulter-Nile for his fifth over. Fifth ball, short, ouside off and Kedar pulled it hard and high...no filkeder at mid-on and gets only a two. Four runs off the over.  


Overs 9 || Score 30/3 || Kedar 10 (12) ; Rohit 12 (22)


Change in attack as James Faulkner stepped in for his first over. First ball, shorter deliver and placed it well outside off as Rohit gently cut it through point for a boundary. Six runs from the over.


Overs 8 || Score 24/3 || Kedar 9 (9) ; Rohit 7 (19)


Coulter-Nile for his fourth over. Just a single off the over.  


Overs 7 || Score 23/3 || Kedar 9 (7) ; Rohit 6 (15)


Cummins in for his fourth over. Third ball, up the length, on middle stump as Kedar punched it through midwicket region for a boundary. They surely need more of that. Seven runs from the over.  


Overs 6 || Score 16/3 || Kedar 4 (3) ; Rohit 4 (13)


Coulter-Nile in for his third and gets his second wicket. First ball, shorter outside off and Kohli tempted by the width went for a punch down covers, but unfortunate for the skipper as the ball kissed the thick outsdie edge of the bat and Maxwell plucked a stunner at backward point. Kohli departed for a duck and India in trouble.


Manish Pandey in and walked out on his very second ball. Third delivery of the over, fullish, outside off, outside edge touch and Wade picked it up comfortably. Out is it? Yes confirmed the third umpire.


Well, well, well! India in deep trouble now. Kedar Jadhav walked in next. Fourth ball, fullish outside off as Kedar crunched it througfh covers for a boundary. First for India so far.  


Overs 5 || Score 11/1 || Kohli 0 (3) ; Rohit 4 (13)


Cummins in for his third over. Last ball, edged....dropped! Rohit Sharma saved! Well, maiden over


Overs 4 || Score 11/1 || Kohli 0 (3) ; Rohit 4 (7)


Coulter-Nile back in for his second. NO ball to start off with and Umpire signalled FREE HIT. Rahane...dot ball. Shorter delivery well outside off as Rahane failed to pull it as the ball travelled untouched to Mathew Wade behind the stumps. And OUT! Outside off delivery did its magic. Second ball, length ball, as Rahane looking for a cut through point nicked it only by a feather as Wade took it behind. Unfortunate for the opener! Virat Kohli walked in next.  


Overs 3 || Score 10/0 || Rahane 5 (11) ; Rohit 4 (7)


Cummins in for his second over. Three runs scopped up between the overs and one coming from a wide delivery. Rohit pulled the shorter delivery to crack a boundary through midwicket in the last ball, got only two off it.  


Overs 2 || Score 4/0 || Rahane 2 (6) ; Rohit 2 (6)


Nathan Coulter-Nile stepped in for the second over to share the new ball. Two slips in place. Hammering Rahane with length deliveries placing it outside off. Just a single off the over.  


Overs 1 || Score 3/0 || Rahane 1 (1) ; Rohit 2 (5)


Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma stepped in to open the innings for the home team while Pat Cummins warmed up with the new ball. Rohit has been phenomenal against the Aussies, he is the highest scoring accounting both the teams, among active players. Three runs off the over.  


India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli(c), Manish Pandey, MS Dhoni(w), Kedar Jadhav, Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah


Australia (Playing XI): David Warner, Hilton Cartwright, Steven Smith(c), Travis Head, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade(w), James Faulkner, Pat Cummins, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Adam Zampa


FUN FACT: Virat has won the toss on 17 ocassions, but opted to bat first only for the third time in his captaincy career. 


TEAM CHANGES: "Rahane to open, Hardik at No. 7. No Jadeja today," said Kohli. And his rival, Smith said, "Faulkner is back, Nathan Coulter-Nile is back and Catwright will be making his debut today."


TOSS TIME: VIrat Kohli wins the toss and elects to bat first 


PITCH REPORT: Dry track with lot of cracks 




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Hosts India are billed in as the favourites considering their great form in the run-up to this series as well as having the home advantage.


The series is being played for the number one ranking too. In other words, both teams have a chance to become the world's numero uno team for which a 4-1 victory margin will be required either way.


India will be without the services of Shikhar Dhawan and Australia will be without Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and possibly Aaron Finch.