Kedar Jadhav seems to payback for the trust Indian Cricket Team has shown in him as he took India over the line chasing 237 runs in the first ODI of the India Australia ODI series. MS Dhoni partnered with Jadhav till the end playing an unbeaten knock of 59 runs. MS Dhoni has been unbeaten in the four ODIs against Australia and has scored fifties in every match.
Virat Kohli also played a handy knock of 44 runs before getting his leg before wicket to Adam Zampa.
Jadhav has been adjudged the man of the match for his innings of 81 runs and a lone wicket.
"It was a difficult sort of a game. We did a good job with the ball. The wicket didn't offer as much as it did under the lights, which was surprising. You have experience with MS and flair with Kedar who is also experienced now. That p'ship was outstanding and it was more or less a complete performance. That set the platform. At 99/3, I was speaking to Ravi bhai, and I said this is good. These guys have to do it and they have to get us across the line. The way Kedar and MS took responsibility, it was great to see.Ten overs for less than 35 is brilliant on this pitch (On Jadeja). He set his fields, it was great to see. He was all geared up that 'I'm gonna finish the game, I just want an opportunity.' He looks in a great shape and that's good for the team. Kuldeep's been doing it for a while. The way Shami has come back into the white-ball set-up after his Test performances, have never seen him so lean before. He has lost 5-6 kgs. He's running in and bowling so well. The lines and length he's bowling; got Maxi on 40-odd out with a beautiful ball. He has wicket-taking ability and he's hungry for wickets. Heading into the WC, it's a great sign for team India. If he can stay hungry like this and look for wickets and he has the ability to back it up with Bumrah and Kuldeep, it's gonna be great to stand in the field and watch" said Virat Kohli in the post match conference.
The Australian captain also expressed his disappointment after a rather average batting show and said, "I think we were 20 or 30 runs short. Especially after we lost one wicket after 10 overs, we could have got few more runs. I thought our bowlers did an outstanding job, but they (India) were too good. Everyone's trying to score runs. It's not as if they are trying to get out. We certainly tried our best with the ball. I think our quicks looked most effective when they were banging it in, with that came few plays and misses. You have to continue taking wickets when you are playing against good teams."