Published 17:10 IST, January 18th 2019
Team India scripts history, becomes first team to win bilateral series in all formats Down Under
Virat Kohli and his men on Friday created history as they became the first Indian team to record a bilateral series win against Australia in Australia
Virat Kohli and his men on Friday created history as they became the first Indian team to record a bilateral series win against Australia in Australia following their seven wickets win in the third ODI in Sydney. But litte did the Men in Blue know that because of their recent success, they did something which no other team has managed to do in the past.
Following their 2-1 ODI series win, India became the first ever team to win a bilateral Test, ODI and T20I series against Australia Down Under. Their Test success came earlier in the tour, when they won the four-match series 2-1. As for their T20I success, they achieved it in their 2016 tour, when they won they whitewashed the Aussies in the three-T20I series.
Team India's recent success came via a hard fought performance in the three-match ODI series. Australia had won the first ODI by 34 runs in Sydney, but India bounced back in sensational performance with a last-over victory in the second ODI in Adelaide, meaning the final fixture in Melbourne was to be the decider.
Batting first on a slow pitch which had a lot to offer for the bowlers, the Aussies could only muster 230 on the board. Despite getting starts, none of the Australian batsmen managed to make it count. Peter Handscomb was the highest scorer with 58, while Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh got 30's.
Chasing a paltry 231, India lost Rohit Sharma early on. Despite the dismissal, the visitors kept going fine in their run-chase, with Shikhar Dhawan and Kohli looking in good touch. They shared a 44-run partnership for the second wicket before Dhawan perished, bringing Dhoni to the crease.
India's two best batsmen toiled with the Australian bowlers, and just like the second ODI, took India closer to a brilliant win. Even though the Indian skipper perished with India needing 118 to win, the visitors never looked behind in the chase, and with some sensational batting by Dhoni and especially Jadhav, guided India to a win with four balls to spare.
Dhoni was the star of the show in the three matches, as he scored 193 runs, including fifties in each of the fixture, at an average of 193 on his way to a man of the series award.
Updated 17:30 IST, January 18th 2019