India has suffered a batting collapse at the Sydney Cricket Ground in the first ODI of a three-match series as the Australian quick bowlers have come out all guns blazing to take three quick wickets.
The Test series is over and for India, so is the comfort of the Australian summer. After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Australia posted a formidable total of 288-5 on the board in their 50 overs.
At the lunch interval, it was discussed that Australia perhaps accelerated their innings a little too late and fell 20 runs short. But coming out to bowl with the new ball, Aussie pacers Jason Behrendorff and Jhye Richardson ran through the famed Indian top order. The former picked up in-form opener Shikhar Dhawan in the very first over while Jhye Richardson removed Indian captain Virat Kohli and followed it up with a sharp inswinger to send Ambati Rayudu back to the pavilion.
When Rayudu was dismissed, India was reduced to 4-3 with Rohit Sharma at the crease but yet to get off the mark. MS Dhoni joined the Indian vice-captain at the crease in a bid to steady the ship.
But seeing a rare batting collapse from India, Twitterati came out all guns blazing.
Me before watching match.
— Pranjul Sharma ? (@Pranjultweet) January 12, 2019
Me after watching match. #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/LmhaYLVFLj
Me when I see it's 4-3.#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/GXWjtAUehC
— _chetan_ (@trust_my_lies) January 12, 2019
Rohit watching @imVkohli getting out#AUSvIND#INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/k1UOwTsHsG
— Mayank (@hutabhuk) January 12, 2019
My rapid fire round on #KoffeWithKaran lasted longer than them #AUSvIND https://t.co/47SKUOo52e
— Harpic Pandya (@HarpicPandya7) January 12, 2019
Kohli failing #INDvAUS #AUSvIND #Cricket #ODI #SwamiVivekananda #NationalYouthDay #Maxwell #Kohli #MSDhoni pic.twitter.com/rks12SQCeg
— zeus star (@Zeushope) January 12, 2019
India 3 down #INDvAUS #AUSvIND #Cricket #ODI #SwamiVivekananda #NationalYouthDay #Maxwell #Kohli #MSDhoni pic.twitter.com/7hTeFsZLtN
— zeus star (@Zeushope) January 12, 2019
#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/egwxuL2zNE
— Deepak Kumar (@Deepakkumar0007) January 12, 2019
Richardson to Indian batsmen #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/8P6zTs8h64
— Amit (@Imit4510) January 12, 2019
Me when I see it's 4-3.#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/GXWjtAUehC
— _chetan_ (@trust_my_lies) January 12, 2019
As Dhoni and Rohit looked to rebuild the innings, they played a lot of dot balls, which saw some hilarious memes on Twitter.
Dhoni is on fire ??
— Angry Indian (@angricitizen) January 12, 2019
he is looking rock solid as pujara
We will win this test match.. #TestMatch@msdhoni #Dhoni #AUSvIND #INDvAUS #Kohli #HardikPandya #MSDhoni #Hitman #Pandya
Watching MSD and Rohit batting !! #INDvsAUS #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/gB9eVbAnG3
— Trojan_Horse (@sampath0272) January 12, 2019
Watching Dhoni batting feels like #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/bf197p6Oiv
— RohIt (@RohIt44820101) January 12, 2019
Watching Dhoni batting feels like #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/bf197p6Oiv
— RohIt (@RohIt44820101) January 12, 2019
Earlier in the day, India brought in Ravindra Jadeja to replace the suspended Hardik Pandya which meant Yuzvendra Chahal had to sit out. In the fast bowling department, Mohammed Shami and Khaleel Ahmed partnered Bhuvneshwar Kumar. While the last two were expensive, Shami made a good case for himself to be in the team for the 2019 World Cup squad.