India beat Australia at Chennai by 26 runs in a match truncated by rain. It is a 5-match One Day International series and hence getting early momentum was the key. India was reeling at 87 for 5 when Hardik Pandya joined MS Dhoni to stitch together a partnership that would take India to safety. India set 281 as a target for Australia, which proved to be too much for the visitors. It was the rookie Indian spinners who spun a web around the Aussie batsmen, making them incapable of picking runs. Yuzvendra Chahal bagged 3 wickets, whereas young Kuldeep Yadav also picked 2 wickets to set back Australia.
So why do we think Australia will lose the second ODI and India will take a 2-0 lead?
India is experiencing the retreat of monsoons and we got a glimpse of it in Chennai where rain hampered Australian chase. According to meteorological reports, chances are that it will rain in Kolkata as well, come 21st September when the two cricketing giants are slated to lock horns again. If that is the case, the match could be called off for the day. However, even if the match is called off on Thursday, they will play or resume the match on Friday.
“If it pours, the way it did today (Monday), and we have to keep the pitch under covers, the ball will come on to the bat slow,” Ashish Bhowmick, the pitch curator said.
“The wicket will help both batsmen and bowlers. We are ready and conditions are ideal for one-day cricket,” Mukherjee concluded.
That is how you relax after taking a 1-0 lead. #TeamIndia #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/EiCH9ruPep
— BCCI (@BCCI) September 18, 2017
It is also learnt that the pitch will assist the spinners. If that is the case and the spinners finally get to play their skills on a damp Eden pitch, then it’ll be extremely difficult for Australians, who are used to hard, bouncy pitches, to win.
So yes, in all probability India might still be in the lead 2-0. It is believed that India’s practise session has been called off due to bad weather.
