IND vs AUS, 1st ODI: Powered by KL Rahul, India thrash Australia by 5 wickets to begin series on high-note

India thrashed Australia in the first ODI of the three-match series played at the Wankhede stadium, Mumbai. India star players KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja powered India to victory by 5 wickets. Interestingly, when the last match between the two teams was played at Wankhede, Team India had to face defeat by 10 wickets. 

Coming to bat first, the Ausssies were bundled out for 188 runs. Chasing the target of 189 runs, the India batting order started collapsing as they started losing early wicket, However, KL Rahul who smashed his 13th ODI fifty, stabilised the innings along with all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, The duo then guided India to an impressive win in just 39.5 overs.

KL Rahul scored a brilliant half-century in this match. Whereas in the first innings, Mohammed Shami, while bowling brilliantly, did not



allow the Australian batters to score runs and took three Australian wickets one after the other. Mohammad Siraj also took 3 wickets and Ravindra Jadeja registered 2 scalps, whereas Hardik Pandya and Kuldeep Yadav got took 1 wicket each.

Talking about the second innings of the match, Team India struggled in the beginning. India was 39/4 but Rahul played a steady innings of 75 runs in 91 balls. Apart from him, Ravindra Jadeja also scored 45 runs. He was adjudged player of the match for his innings, superb bowling, and fielding. 

The ODI series between is very important from the point of view of preparations for the World Cup, later this year. Team India won the recently concluded Test series against the Aussies by 2-1. India and Australia will lock horns again in the 2nd ODI on March 19 at Vishakapatnam.'