India skipper Virat Kohli had no qualms conceding that the visitors were outplayed by a confident and ruthless Australia within the series-deciding second ODI here on Sunday, pinning the blame on the ineffective and inconsistent bowling by his side.
India suffered a 51-run drubbing within the second ODI on Sunday to concede an unassailable 2-0 series cause Australia within the three-match series. The visitors had lost the opening match by 66 runs in another high-scoring game.
“We were completely outplayed. i feel with the ball, we weren’t that effective, we didn’t hit the areas that we wanted to consistently and that they have a robust batting line-up, they know the conditions and therefore the angles well,” Kohli said at the post-match presentation.
Chasing Australia’s 389, India finished at 338 for 9 with Kohli (89) and KL Rahul (76) being the top-scorer.
“Look at the scoreboard, we got 340 and still fell short by 50 odd, therefore the chase always felt steep and that we knew one or two wickets would take the specified rate to up to 13, 16 then we had to stay hitting,” the India skipper said.
“They took the probabilities that they created within the field, which was the difference, otherwise it might are a way closer game.”
“…credit to them, they bowled far more consistently and used the size well.”
Kohli said the 2 catches which led to his and Shreyas Iyer’s (38) dismissal were the “defining moments” of the sport .
“Me and KL (Rahul) were talking if we stick around till 40-41 (overs), even 100 in last 10 overs with Hardik to return , it had been game on, that was the sport plan but the 2 catches that they persisted to were the defying moments,” he said.
A pleased Australia captain Aaron Finch said his bowlers took some lessons from the way Pandya bowled.
“Moises bowled rather well defensively including his cutters, and as Virat said, we got a touch of a blueprint from Hardik, by taking the pace off the ball,” he said.
Electing to bat, Australia posted a formidable 389 for 4 and Finch described it as a “perfect performance with the bat.”
“There was no extra talk or game plan. very happy to wrap it up in two games and win the series,” he said.