The second ODI of the five-match series between India and Australia was played at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur, with Indian team holding a 1-0 lead in the series by winning the first match at Hyderabad.
Australia skipper Aaron Finch chose to field after winning the toss and surprises many with his decision to do so. Australia brought back Nathan Lyon and Shaun Marsh in the playing XI, while India went unchanged.
Australia struck the first blow, as Rohit Sharma was dismissed for a duck in an ODI for the first time in front of home crowd. Dhawan (21) and Rayudu (18) failed to partner Kohli for an extended period of time. A surprise promotion for Vijay Shankar helped Kohli move things along as the duo added 81 runs for the fourth wicket.
Shankar was unluckily run out for 46 off 41 balls with 5 fours and 1 six. Kedar Jadhav was out for 11, while MS Dhoni recorded a golden duck this time. India kept losing wickets at regular intervals and Virat Kohli soldiered on and completed his 40th century in ODI cricket.
He added 67 runs with Jadeja (21) and was finally dismissed for 116 in 120 balls with 10 fours when he was caught by Stoinis off Cummins. India was finally dismissed for 250 in 48.2 overs with Pat Cummins picking 4/29 and Zampa picking 2/62.
Australian openers Finch (37) and Khawaja (38) added 83 runs for the first wicket. Finch was dismissed by Kuldeep, while Jadhav removed Khawaja. Shaun Marsh was dismissed for 16, stumped by Dhoni off Jadeja and Kuldeep removed the dangerous Maxwell for 4. This left Australia 132/4.
But then Handscomb (48), along with Stoinis (52) and Carey (22) slowly brought Australia back in the game. Bumrah changed the game with two wickets of Coulter-Nile and Cummins in one over. Stoinis batted brilliantly and took the equation to 11 runs in the final over, which was bowled by Vijay Shankar.
Shankar dismissed Stoinis on the first ball of the over to seal the game for India and then bowled Adam Zampa to win the match by 8 runs.
BRIEF SCORES:
IND 250 (V Kohli 116; P CUMMINS 4/29) defeated AUS 242 (M STOINIS 52; K YADAV 3/54) by 8 runs
