Twitter Reactions: Richardson and Handscomb outshine Rohit Sharma as India go down in Sydney

After the talk-show controversy surrounding KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya, the first ODI between Australia and India took place at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). The Aussies, following a disappointing Test series, made a strong statement as they won the encounter by 34 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The team dished out an all-round show and got India on the mat from the outset.

Handscomb top-scores for Aussies

Australia didn’t have the best of starts after winning the toss and electing to bat as Bhuvneshwar Kumar rattled skipper Aaron Finch’s woodwork in the third over. Wicketkeeper Alex Carey spanked five boundaries to score 24, but Chinaman Kuldeep Yadav accounted for his wicket. Thereafter, Usman Khawaja and Shaun Marsh put their heads down and scored 93 runs for the third wicket in 111 balls.

Ravindra Jadeja trapped Khawaja, who racked up 59 runs from 81 balls, in front to break the stand. After Peter Handscomb and Marsh cobbled together 53 runs, Kuldeep nipped out Marsh after the left-hander notched 54 runs from 70 balls. Handscomb and Stoinis took charge, scored 73 and 47 respectively, and helped the hosts post 288 for five in 50 overs. For India, Kumar and Kuldeep picked up two wickets each.

Rohit and Dhoni steady the ship

The visitors had a start equivalent to a nightmare as they lost three wickets for four runs in 3.5 overs. Even as debutant Jason Behrendroff picked up Shikhar Dhawan for a duck, Jhy Richardson got the prized scalps of Virat Kohli and Ambati Rayudu. Thereafter, opener Rohit Sharma and veteran MS Dhoni blended caution with aggression and stitched together a useful partnership of 137 runs from 171 balls.

Dhoni accomplished his fifty in 62 balls with three fours and a six. Unfortunately, Behrendroff removed him after three deliveries. Rohit accomplished his 22nd ODI century in 110 balls. The Nagpur-born amassed 133 runs from 129 deliveries with 10 boundaries and as many as six sixes. After Stoinis got rid of him in the 46th over when Rohin mistimed a pull-shot, India couldn’t make a comeback and lost the match.

Here is how Twitter reacted

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