Rohit Sharma became the third Indian player to smash an ODI double ton as he helped India get the better of Australia in the seventh and final match in Bangalore in a series that saw plenty of high scores.
Follow Us
The 2013 ODI and T20I series between India and Australia witnessed plenty of high scores and big hits. Totals in excess of 300 were commonplace. Batsmen hit centuries and sixes were the most common score. The aggregate of runs scored between India and Australia surpassed all previous records as bowlers suffered. The series started off with only Twenty20 International in Rajkot. India managed to chase down a total in excess of 200 to get the tour going on a grand note.
The ODIs started on a poor note for India. In the first match in Pune, the hosts suffered a loss of 72 runs. But, in the second match in Jaipur, Virat Kohli scored the fastest ODI century by an Indian batsman in the format. His 52-ball hundred, combined with Rohit Sharma’s amazing century and Shikhar Dhawan’s 95 helped India chase down 360 in just over 40 overs. In the third match in Mohali, James Faulkner hit Ishant Sharma for 30 runs to give Australia an improbable victory.
The next two games were rained off in Ranchi and Cuttack as Australia held on to a 2-1 lead. In the sixth match at Nagpur, Australia was boosted by a knock of 156 from George Bailey as they notched up 350/6. But, Dhawan and Kohli blasted centuries as they chased down the total to level the series 2-2. The final match in Bangalore now had everything at stake for both sides.
India chose to bat and they made a great start in the Bangalore ODI. Dhawan and Rohit notched up a 112-run opening run stand. But, the left-hander was trapped LBW by Xavier Doherty for 60. Then came the moment which changed the entire dynamics of Rohit Sharma’s knock. In a terrible mix-up, Rohit ran out Kohli for 0 and that did not make the Delhi batsman happy. Rohit decided to hang in. At 207/4 in the 34th over, it seemed like India would reach a total somewhere in the range of 310-320. But, Rohit decided to up the ante.
Rohit notched up his century and he had MS Dhoni for company. The stage was set for an onslaught that just blew the Australians away. Rohit signaled his intent with a big six off Clint McKay. As the death overs approached, Rohit Sharma changed gears brilliantly. He hit a six and four off James Faulkner. Rohit went past 1000 runs in the calendar year and notched up his 150 with two fours off McKay.
The 47th over saw Rohit clobber three sixes and two fours off Xavier Doherty as he broke the record for most sixes in an innings by an Indian. Dhoni joined in the fun with two sixes and a four off Faulkner as India absolutely tore the Australian bowling to shreds. Rohit neared his double ton with a six and four off Nathan Coulter-Nile. In the final over, Rohit became the third player after Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag to hit a double ton in ODIs as he hit two consecutive sixes off McKay. India ended on 383/6, with the last 10 overs yielding 151 runs.
Chasing 384, Australia started aggressively but they lost wickets at regular intervals. It was Glenn Maxwell that gave Australia hope as he blasted 60 off 22 balls. James Faulkner, who had already acquired the reputation of a finisher, took the attack on the Indian bowlers.
There were some moments of tension when Dhawan and Ravindra Jadeja mocked Shane Watson. The batsman was injured and both players were apparently mocking the injury. This led to a heated confrontation in the middle.
Watson and Faulkner regularly cleared the ropes, with Vinay Kumar bearing the brunt of the assault by conceding 102 runs in nine overs. For some time, Australia was giving India a serious scare. But, when Jadeja dismissed Watson, the pressure mounted. Faulkner went on to score the fastest century by an Australian player. But, when he was dismissed, the game was up and India won by 57 runs to win the series 3-2.
It was a run-scoring feast. Over 3500 runs were aggregated in the entire series. In the Bangalore match alone, a record 38 sixes were hit. The series, though, changed Indian cricket. Rohit Sharma, who had a middling career till now, evolved into one of the greatest limited-overs openers in the modern era. His partnership with Dhawan laid the foundation for many of India’s greatest triumphs.
It was from this series that Rohit hurt Australia on a regular basis. He became the first player to smash 100 sixes against them. The series saw the evolution of Rohit as one of the best, and Indian cricket only benefited in the coming years.
