India lost an ODI series at home for the first time since March 2019 with their 21-run loss to Australia on Wednesday. It was Australia who had beaten them last and since then, India hosted eight teams for ODI series and beat all of them. However, the recent defeat comes with just months to go for the 2023 World Cup that India host.
The two sides had gone into the third ODI in Chennai with three-match series tied at 1-1. Australia batted first after winning the toss and scored 269. In reply, India were all out for 248 runs. Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar said that he hopes India don't forget this before the World Cup as the team now separates for the Indian Premier League (IPL), which starts on March 31.
Gavaskar said that Australia's exceptional fielding had created enough pressure to force the Indian batters to create shots. “It was the pressure created. They were not getting singles. The boundaries had dried up and they weren't even getting singles. When that happens then you try and play something that you are not used to. That is something they will have to look at. But of course, now the IPL starts. This shouldn't be forgotten. India sometimes makes the mistake of forgetting this, but this one shouldn't be because in the World Cup, we may face Australia again,” said Gavaskar on Star Sports.
Gavaskar also said that the fact that India could not get any big partnership apart from the stand between Virat Kohli and KL Rahul and the opening partnership between Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill is a big reason for their defeat. Kohli and Rahul put up 69 runs for the third wicket while Rohit and Gill made a 65-run opening stand. It was only Kohli who could score a half century for India, making 54 off 72 balls before putting an attempted lofted shot right down the throat of David Warner.
{{/usCountry}}Gavaskar also said that the fact that India could not get any big partnership apart from the stand between Virat Kohli and KL Rahul and the opening partnership between Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill is a big reason for their defeat. Kohli and Rahul put up 69 runs for the third wicket while Rohit and Gill made a 65-run opening stand. It was only Kohli who could score a half century for India, making 54 off 72 balls before putting an attempted lofted shot right down the throat of David Warner.
{{/usCountry}}“When you are chasing a score of 270 or nearly 300, you need a partnership of about 90 or 100 and that will take you close. But that didn't happen. Yes, there were a couple of partnerships, one between Rahul and Kohli, but then you wanted another similar or bigger stand. Fielding from Australia was outstanding. Their bowling was very good. It was tight, stump to stump, but their fielding was very good. That was the difference,” said Gavaskar.