India vs Australia ODI Thriller: Kohli Masterclass Seals Epic Chase
The stage was set at a packed Wankhede Stadium as cricket’s greatest modern rivals locked horns in a 50-over classic. Australia’s 264 all out in 49.3 overs, built on Steve Smith’s gritty 71 and Alex Carey’s counterattacking 50, seemed competitive on a tricky surface. But Virat Kohli (80*) had other ideas, anchoring India’s chase with trademark precision to seal a 5-wicket victory with 3 balls to spare. Here’s how the drama unfolded…
I.First Innings: Australia’s Rollercoaster 264 (49.3 Overs)
Powerplay (0-10): Head’s Fireworks & Early Strikes (63/2)
The innings exploded to life when Travis Head (38 off 22) treated the new ball with disdain, smashing three sixes off Siraj in a 50-run stand with Smith. But Jasprit Bumrah’s review-winning inswinger trapped Connolly (2) plumb LBW in the 3rd over, while Jadeja’s arm-ball cleaned up Head against the run of play.
Australia Innings (264 all out in 49.3 overs)
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR | Dismissal | Bowler |
| Travis Head | 38 | 22 | 4 | 3 | 172.72 | b Jadeja | Ravindra Jadeja |
| Cameron Connolly | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 25.00 | lbw b Bumrah | Jasprit Bumrah |
| Steve Smith | 71 | 89 | 4 | 0 | 79.77 | c Rahul b Pandya | Hardik Pandya |
| Marnus Labuschagne | 24 | 42 | 1 | 0 | 57.14 | c Gill b Kuldeep | Kuldeep Yadav |
| Glenn Maxwell | 8 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 66.66 | c Iyer b Pandya | Hardik Pandya |
| Alex Carey | 50 | 48 | 7 | 1 | 104.16 | b Siraj | Mohammed Siraj |
| Pat Cummins | 12 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 80.00 | b Bumrah | Jasprit Bumrah |
| Mitchell Starc | 9 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 81.81 | c Kohli b Bumrah | Jasprit Bumrah |
| Adam Zampa | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 57.14 | lbw b Jadeja | Ravindra Jadeja |
| Josh Hazlewood | 5 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 83.33 | not out | – |
| Tanveer Sangha | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 | run out (Jadeja) | – |
| Extras | 10 | (lb 4, w 6) | |||||
| Total | 264 | 49.3 overs | 5.32 RPO |
🔑 Key Moment: Head’s dismissal at 54/1 halted Australia’s flying start.
Middle Overs (10-40): Smith-Labuschagne Grind (150/4)
Steve Smith (71 off 89) and Marnus Labuschagne (24 off 42) rebuilt cautiously against India’s spin twins Jadeja (2/45) and Kuldeep (1/52). The pair added 50 in 69 balls, but Labuschagne’s sweep-to-slip dismissal at 130/3 triggered a mini-collapse.
🏏 Turning Point: Hardik Pandya’s slower-ball bouncer removed Glenn Maxwell (8) via a skied catch at 140/4.
Death Overs (40-50): Carey’s Cameo & Late Drama (51/4)
Alex Carey’s 50 off 48 balls (7 fours, 1 six) gave Australia late impetus, including a 53-run stand with Smith. But Bumrah (3/52) returned to york Cummins, while Siraj’s toe-crusher ended Carey’s resistance at 250/8.
📊 Stat Alert: Australia lost 4 wickets in the last 10 overs despite Carey’s heroics.
II.Second Innings: Kohli’s Chase Symphony (265/5 in 49.3 Overs)
Powerplay (0-10): Early Jitters (55/2)
Starc’s inswinger demolished Gill’s stumps (4) in the 2nd over, while Hazlewood had Rohit (22 off 19) caught behind after a failed review. At 43/2 in 7 overs, Australia sniffed blood.
🔥 Game Changer: Kohli’s first boundary – a picture-perfect cover drive off Cummins – settled nerves.
India Innings (265/5 in 49.3 overs)
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR | Dismissal | Bowler |
| Rohit Sharma | 22 | 19 | 3 | 1 | 115.78 | c Carey b Hazlewood | Josh Hazlewood |
| Shubman Gill | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 66.66 | b Starc | Mitchell Starc |
| Virat Kohli | 80* | 89 | 7 | 1 | 89.88 | not out | – |
| Shreyas Iyer | 29 | 38 | 2 | 0 | 76.31 | lbw b Zampa | Adam Zampa |
| KL Rahul | 31 | 39 | 2 | 0 | 79.48 | c Labuschagne b Starc | Mitchell Starc |
| Hardik Pandya | 17 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 141.66 | run out (Smith) | – |
| Ravindra Jadeja | 9* | 6 | 1 | 0 | 150.00 | not out | – |
| Extras | 13 | (lb 5, w 8) | |||||
| Total | 265/5 | 49.3 overs | 5.35 RPO |
Middle Overs (10-40): Kohli-Iyer Masterclass (145/2)
Kohli (80* off 89) and Iyer (29 off 38) rebuilt with a 50-run stand in 67 balls. Iyer fell sweeping Zampa, but KL Rahul’s crisp 31 kept the chase on track.
🎯 Tactical Win: Kohli’s calculated aggression against Zampa (0/47 in 8 overs) neutralized Australia’s spin threat.
Death Overs (40-50): Nail-Biting Finish (67/2)
With 65 needed off 60, Kohli shifted gears – launching Starc for six over midwicket. Pandya’s cameo (17 off 12) ended with a run-out, but Kohli’s 50th ODI fifty and Jadeja’s calm 9* sealed the deal.
💥 Climax: 7 needed off 6 balls → Kohli’s boundary off Cummins sparked wild celebrations!
India’s Bowling Team Scorecard
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wkts | Econ | WD | NB |
| Jasprit Bumrah | 10 | 52 | 3 | 5.20 | 2 | 0 |
| Mohammed Siraj | 9.3 | 58 | 1 | 6.10 | 1 | 0 |
| Hardik Pandya | 8 | 42 | 2 | 5.25 | 2 | 0 |
| Ravindra Jadeja | 10 | 45 | 2 | 4.50 | 0 | 0 |
| Kuldeep Yadav | 10 | 52 | 1 | 5.20 | 1 | 0 |
| Shardul Thakur | 2 | 11 | 0 | 5.50 | 0 | 0 |
Analysis of India Bowling Performance
India’s bowlers delivered a disciplined performance to restrict Australia to 264 in 49.3 overs:
- Jasprit Bumrah: Led the attack superbly with figures of 3/52 in 10 overs. Maintained pressure with a tidy economy of 5.20, picking up key wickets including the top order.
- Ravindra Jadeja: Was economical and effective in the middle overs, returning 2/45 from his full quota of 10 overs with a brilliant economy of 4.50.
- Hardik Pandya: Provided crucial breakthroughs with 2/42 in 8 overs, keeping things tight during the middle overs.
- Mohammed Siraj: Conceded 58 runs in 9.3 overs for 1 wicket, slightly expensive with an economy of 6.10, but helped clean up the tail.
- Kuldeep Yadav: Picked up 1 wicket for 52 runs in his 10 overs. Maintained a decent economy of 5.20, offering variation in the middle overs.
- Shardul Thakur: Bowled just 2 overs, conceding 11 runs without any wickets.
🟢 Highlight: Jasprit Bumrah’s pace and accuracy were pivotal in dismantling Australia’s batting, earning him the title of Top Bowler for India.
Australia’s Bowling Team Scorecard
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wkts | Econ | WD | NB |
| Mitchell Starc | 10 | 55 | 2 | 5.50 | 3 | 0 |
| Josh Hazlewood | 10 | 48 | 1 | 4.80 | 1 | 0 |
| Pat Cummins | 9.3 | 54 | 0 | 5.68 | 2 | 0 |
| Adam Zampa | 10 | 47 | 1 | 4.70 | 1 | 0 |
| Glenn Maxwell | 6 | 32 | 0 | 5.33 | 1 | 0 |
| Cameron Green | 4 | 24 | 0 | 6.00 | 0 | 0 |
Match Summary
| Team | Total | Overs | Result | Top Batter | Top Bowler |
| Australia | 264 | 49.3 | Lost by 5 wkts | Steve Smith (71) | Jasprit Bumrah (3/52) |
| India | 265/5 | 49.3 | Winner | Virat Kohli (80*) | Mitchell Starc (2/55) |
Analysis of Australia’s Bowling Performance
Australia’s bowlers tried hard to defend a moderate total but couldn’t prevent India from chasing it down in 49.3 overs:
- Mitchell Starc: Was the most successful bowler for Australia with 2/55 in his 10 overs. Bowled with aggression but went for runs at times.
- Josh Hazlewood: Maintained tight lines and gave away just 48 runs in his 10 overs, taking 1 wicket at an economy of 4.80.
- Adam Zampa: Bowled economically with figures of 1/47 from 10 overs, keeping the Indian batters in check during the middle overs.
- Pat Cummins: Went wicketless in his 9.3 overs, conceding 54 runs with an economy of 5.68.
- Glenn Maxwell: Bowled 6 overs for 32 runs, used as a part-time option without much success.
- Cameron Green: Was expensive in his short 4-over spell, giving away 24 runs without any wickets.
🔴 Challenge: Australia lacked penetration in the latter half of the innings, and failure to dismiss set batter Virat Kohli cost them the match.
Key Performances of Both The Squads
🇦🇺 Australia
- Steve Smith 71 (89 balls) – The anchor
- Alex Carey 50 (48) – Late surge
- Mitchell Starc 2/55 – Early strikes
🇮🇳 India
- Virat Kohli 80 (89)* – Chase maestro
- Jasprit Bumrah 3/52 – Powerplay/death excellence
- Ravindra Jadeja 2/45 & 9* – All-round impact
Turning Points
- Head’s Dismissal (54/1 → 54/2) – Stopped Australia’s momentum
- Kohli-Iyer 50-Run Stand – Stabilized India’s chase
- Carey’s Wicket (250/8) – Killed Australia’s 275+ hopes
- Kohli’s Six off Starc (43rd over) – Broke the tension
Verdict: A Kohli Classic
India’s win was built on Bumrah’s precision bowling and Kohli’s chasing genius, but Australia’s fight made this a contest for the ages. The match had everything – fiery starts, middle-overs chess, and a last-over thriller.
Player of the Match: Virat Kohli – “The pitch wasn’t easy, so I wanted to bat deep. The crowd’s energy kept me going!”
