Pathetic show from Team India

This hot and energy-sapping Australian summer is turning out to be a nightmare for Team India, under the leadership of Virat Kohli.

In less than three days, India lost to the Aussies at same venue, the Sydney Cricket Ground, and thereby the three-match series 0-2. It is rare for the same venue to host two back-to-back ODIs.

Given the way the series has been scheduled Down Under, with some states still being extra careful about the Covid-19 pandemic, playing in Sydney became imperative. This has been, traditionally, a happy hunting ground for the hosts.
On Sunday, even as over 17,000 fans were allowed in, Steve Smith turned in a blistering performance. The Rajasthan Royals captain, who looked out of sorts while playing in the IPL recently, showed flair, form and fluency to slam a huge hundred. Smith is the typical Aussie mate who loves to excel while playing for his country.

To be scoring twin tons between Friday and Sunday in such an environment had former cricket greats showering fulsome praise on him. Social media, too, was busy praising him and so were cricket fans as they watched the savage knock from Smith which was elegant as well.

Once the Aussies had scored 389 runs, the spine and spirit of Team India had been crushed on Sunday. The Indian bowling, again, looked club class and Hardik Pandya did finally bowl. Post back surgery, his return to bowling in ODIs was rusty, though to get Smith’s wicket may be a consolation.

The Aussie batting has revolved around solid fundamentals and once again the top order was in dominant mode. Smith apart, David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne and Glenn Maxwell shredded the Indian bowling attack. It looked as if this Indian bowling unit woke up from deep slumber in the bio bubble and came onto the field. There will be plenty of debates over such insipid bowling in coming days.

And what about the man who the Aussie haves been tormenting even before the series began. Yes, Virat Kohli, the uninspiring captain who seems in a hurry to return home on paternity leave, was clueless as the leader.

Kohli did score 89 runs and KL Rahul was good for 71 runs. Yet, in the overall scenario, chasing 390 for a win, these knocks did not suffice. Perhaps, two batsmen needed to stay in the middle and slam hundreds.

This Indian team looks in bad shape and for those fans whose spirits were lifted after watching club cricket called IPL, the ODIs are a moment of truth.

The heat has just begun for Team India Down Under. From here on, it will get even tougher for them. Can Virat Kohli show leadership and effect a turnaround? We will get the answers in the next few weeks.