Ind Vs Aus: Captaincy Ka Darja? Kohli and Rahul take charge mid-match! Deets inside

Even though the series was lost, India’s performance under Gill’s captaincy indicated that the team was not lacking in enthusiasm, balance, and leadership. India lost the first ODI in Perth by 7 wickets (DLS), and the second by 2 wickets in Adelaide.

New Delhi: After losing the first two ODIs, India entered the third and final ODI aiming to salvage their reputation and avoid a clean sweep. Australia won the toss and elected to bat first, and opening pair Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head made a strong start. Together, they shared a 61-run partnership, challenging the Indian bowlers in the opening overs.

New Strategy Under Gill's Captaincy

Captain Shubman Gill experimented with different bowling combinations, but initially found no success. Meanwhile, veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli played an active role on the field. The experience and guidance of both senior players helped Gill make strategic decisions.

Run dispute between Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer caught on stump mic during Ind vs Aus ODI match

Gill made two key changes under his captaincy—Prasidh Krishna and Kuldeep Yadav were included in the team, while Arshdeep Singh and Nitish Kumar Reddy were omitted. This decision proved crucial in the match, as India eventually bowled out Australia for 236 runs.

Effective Bowling by Kuldeep, Axar, and Sundar

Australia started aggressively, but under Gill's captaincy, India made a strong comeback in the middle overs. Gill accurately rotated his spinners Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, and Axar Patel, curbing the Australian run rate.

Kohli-Gill Conversation Became Turning Point

An interesting moment during the match was when Virat Kohli called Shubman Gill and had a brief discussion with wicketkeeper KL Rahul. The conversation lasted only ten seconds, but its impact was immediately visible—both India's fielding and bowling improved.

IND vs AUS: Australia beat India by 2 wickets to seal ODI series 2–0

TV commentator said, "Virat Kohli was seen talking to Shubman Gill and KL Rahul. Captaincy may not be important, but experience matters. Whether it's Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, or Rahul—all of them are helping the team with their experience."

India Suffered Defeats In Previous Matches

India lost the first ODI in Perth by 7 wickets (DLS), and the second by 2 wickets in Adelaide. Therefore, the third ODI played at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) was a prestige-saving match for India.

Even though the series was lost, India's performance under Gill's captaincy indicated that the team was not lacking in enthusiasm, balance, and leadership.