Hardik and Dhoni partnership proved to be a match-winning: Steve Smith

The Australian team put in a lot of planning to ensure the Chennai ODI, their opening day on this tour to India would pan out their way. They landed in the city a week ahead to get accustomed to the heat and the humidity that would play a big role. Though that wasn’t a factor as the game was eventually marred by rain and Australia’s target was reduced from 282 in 50 overs to 164 in 21 but they fell 26 runs short and gave the Indians a 1-0 lead in the series.

Being asked to bowl first the Australian pacers Pat Cummins and Nathan Coulter-Nile enjoyed the pace on offer from the Chepauk wicket. The hint of lateral movement they were able to extract in the air and off the deck was enough to send the Indian top order back as they were 11/3 in the first 5 overs and later 87/5. But MS Dhoni and Hardik Pandya stitched a partnership that changed the course of the game and led them to 281/7.

Smith backs Cartwright to do well

Australia brought in Hilton Cartwright to open the batting alongside David Warner but the debutant lost his wicket to Jasprit Bumrah after scoring just 1 run. Skipper Steve Smith doesn’t think it was a bad decision to give him a chance in this game though it didn’t work out the way he’d have liked.

“I did think about it. But I thought it was a good opportunity for Hilton Cartwright to get into the game. It was probably the hardest time to bat with the new ball. It didn’t come off tonight. Hopefully he (Cartwright) can rectify and score some runs a lot more,” Smith said in the post-match press conference.

Match-winning partnership

It was Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya who changed the momentum of the innings for the hosts, he hit Adam Zampa for three sixes in the 27th over and it opened the floodgates for them to get quick runs. He concluded his innings on 83 and along with MS Dhoni had stitched a 118-run partnership to set India up for a par total.

“They (India) put a 120 odd and took them from 87 to 206 (205). In the end, that proved to be a match-winning partnership. We started very well with the new ball,” Smith stated about their stand.

“It’s always nice to get the full 50 overs in. That’s what we are here to play. But I think it was raining pretty hard at that point when we were off,” he added talking about the rain and reduced overs.

Not focusing on wrist-spin

Virat Kohli opted to field both the wrist spinners in the opening game though Ravindra Jadeja had joined the team as a replacement for Axar Patel. The plan worked out as the duo was able to extract turn from the surface and the Aussies hardly read them. Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal shared 5 wickets amongst them and derailed the Australian innings.

Ahead of the game, reports suggested that the Australian team had at least two wrist spinners and even brought in a chinaman from Kerala to get used to the Indian duo. But the 28-year-old said they prepared equally for spin and pace.

“We certainly haven’t been focusing only on wrist-spin. We have been facing fast bowlers and other net bowlers. India have some quality seamers as well. We haven’t been just focusing on that, I can assure you that,” Smith mentioned.