What could have been a memorable series for the rivalry between two great cricketing nations has now turned into a testament to poor team selection and lacklustre gameplay from the Indian side.
The Australian team, missing the likes of Steve Smith and David Warner, managed to outshine an Indian side featuring two modern day greats, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
The match, which could have gone down to the wire, was won by Australia by 2 wickets in the 47th over. A look at the scorecard might suggest it was a close contest, but the story behind it tells a very different tale.
Reasons Behind India’s Poor Performance
1. Poor Captaincy
Shubman Gill may be a budding captain, aided by two former skippers, yet he failed to put sustained pressure on the Australian batters.
Even after picking up two early wickets, India never looked like they had Australia under control. In contrast, when India lost two early wickets, the pressure was visible, something clearly reflected in Rohit Sharma’s tentative approach with the bat.
The inability to pressurise the Australian lineup made their chase significantly easier. Moreover, the bowling changes were questionable, bringing Axar Patel into the attack as late as the 20th over was a poor decision as he should have been introduced much earlier.
2. Team Selection
It is well known that head coach Gautam Gambhir emphasises all round contributions from players, perhaps one reason why Harshit Rana has been encouraged to score runs as well.
However, this approach has its drawbacks. While Rana contributed a few runs, his bowling was underwhelming, with his economy rate becoming a major concern.
Excluding Kuldeep Yadav, India’s most consistent wicket taker, from the playing eleven was another baffling decision. Despite his strong recent performances, Kuldeep once again found himself on the sidelines, a pattern that continues unfairly.
3. Gameplay
India never looked in control throughout the match. Each time they seemed to have an opportunity to dominate, they let the game drift away. The lack of intent and urgency was evident in both departments.
4. Kohli’s Ducks
Virat Kohli’s much anticipated return to international cricket after nearly six months has been far from ideal. Two consecutive ducks have raised serious concerns for a team looking ahead to the 2027 ODI World Cup.
With the series already lost, India will now be playing for pride in the third and final ODI. A few serious changes in strategy, selection and on field approach are the need of the hour.