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  AC ,-C IPL form into the first game of the series but it was his fast-medi- ardik um that Kohli missed on the +- '"  Pandya’ day as he lacked options when Smith Hs sent his regular bowlers on a leather- career-best effort hunt. *" , )*" wasn’t good India badly missed a sixth bowl- enough to ing option with none of their special- compensate ist batters good enough to roll their   AC ,-C Pandya said that he can’t put a for a forget- arms for even two to three overs. timeline on when he would bowl as table bowl- It was a day when the bowling e will bowl only when the time he doesn’t want to rush things. ing effort unit barring (3/59 His right, said India’s top all- “I am thinking as a long term plan as India in 10 overs) flopped badly and poor rounder Hardik Pandya on Friday, not short term plan where I’ll try to slumped to a fielding only added to their woes. #          urging the team to groom other exhaust myself and maybe have 66-run defeat As many as three sitters were  A4  4   .    .# players with multiple skill-sets after something else which is not there, so against Australia dropped and numerous sloppy efforts his bowling was badly missed in the it’s a process, which I am following. in the first ODI, on the field added to the misery.     opening ODI loss to Australia. I can’t tell you exactly when I am making a rather The normally steady Yuzvendra The flamboyant all-rounder, who going to bowl,” he said, informing that unimpressive start to Chahal (1/89 in 10 overs) earned the %  % In a security breach, two pro- is remodelling his action after a back he is bowling at the nets. the tour, here on Friday. ignominy of worst figures by an testers made their way into the field of surgery, is still not ready for that Pandya made no bones about the ’s men Indian spinner and ’s play during the first ODI between India workload which is affecting the bal- fact that India should also look at all- started exactly on a note wretched ODI form (1/73 in 10 overs) and Australia before being escorted out ance of the side. round options considering that a sixth they wouldn’t have liked, continued. here on Friday. “I am working on my bowling, I bowling option is a must for balance giving away 374 runs in 50 India’s fastest bowler Navdeep Two people made their way into the am going to come at the right time of an ODI team. overs with rival Aaron Saini (1/83 in 10 overs) also struggled centre fielding circle holding up card- when it is needed,” Pandya said at “I think, maybe, we will Finch (114 off 124 balls) and his like any newcomer does, unable to hit board signs before the start of the sev- the post-match press conference. have to find someone who has illustrious predecessor the right length on Australian tracks. enth over. For the Baroda man, it is already played India and groom (105 off 66 balls) hitting contrasting (0/63 in 10 overs) The invaders were protesters important that once he starts them and find a way to make hundreds. wasn’t as costly as Chahal but since against Adani Group and held ‘NO $1B bowling in match situations, he them play,” he said. A pitch that looked docile during the past two and half months, his ADANI LOAN’ sign. The front of the is able to deliver at opti- “It is always going to be the first half suddenly came to life in bowling has lacked sting. protesters’ T-shirt read “#StopAdani”, mum speeds required for difficult when you go with the second as Josh Hazlewood (3/55) India’s eternal nemesis Smith while at the back, it said “Stop Coal. producing quality per- five bowlers, because then bounced out the Indian top-order, seems ready to torment them a lot in #StopAdani. Take Action.” PTI formances at big events. if somebody is having an including Kohli and a frightened next two months if his 11 fours and “It’s a process, I am off day, you won’t have , who got himself into a four sixes were any indication on It helped as Smith and Maxwell looking at a long-term someone to fulfill (that tangle. Friday. (45 off 19 balls) had no problems in goal where I want to be role),” he said about a col- Pandya’s 76-ball 90 and a 128-run Not for once was he troubled by flaying the bowlers during the last 10 100 per cent of my lective flop-show by the stand with senior opener Shikhar the Indian bowlers, who were already overs. bowling capacity for Indian bowling. Dhawan (74 off 86 balls) delayed the under the pump after a 156-run While chasing, Mitchell Starc’s the most important “.....More than injury, inevitable but it was always a catch- opening stand between Finch and wayward first over that cost 20 runs games when the it is about the sixth up game after the team was reduced David Warner (69). did give India the much required World Cups are bowler’s role. If some- to 101 for 4 inside 14 overs. A lot of credit should go to impetus at the onset but Hazlewood’s coming or the one is having a bad Big-hearted leg-spinner Adam Warner and Finch for the manner in splendid short bowling saw the end of most crucial series day, so the other guys Zampa (4/54 in 10 overs) dismissed which they attacked Chahal. (22 off 18 balls), whenever it is gets more cushion,” Dhawan and Pandya in quick succes- While Finch used his feet to Kohli (21 in 21 balls) leaving the vis- required,” he said. he said. sion as India surrendered to score- smother the spin and play against the itors out of sorts in a jiffy. board pressure finishing at 308/8 turn, Warner stayed back in the Vice-captain KL Rahul (12) after 50 overs. crease to hit Chahal with the turn, dis- couldn’t keep down an innocuous full- ended. showed how only one team dominat- Pandya, who hit seven fours turbing his line and length complete- toss from Zampa and India were in A high percentage of dot balls ed the proceedings throughout the and four sixes, carried his blazing ly. deep trouble even before 15 overs had (148) in the Indian innings also course of game.  5 6 3) < *-)'  *,  "  +",04 7 '7 <'? 7 ,+*) * "*,+ !

  AC ,-C ately and Glenn Maxwell com- pleted the over. ustralia all-rounder Marcus According to cricket.com.au, AStoinis could be in doubt the 31-year-old suffered a “left- for the second ODI against side pain” and will have scans to India after he sustained an determine the extent of the injury during the series opener injury. on Friday, according to reports. Stoinis’ injury may put all- Stoinis grimaced in pain rounders Cameron Green and after delivering the second ball Moises Henriques in contention of his seventh over of India’s run for the second ODI at the SCG chase. He left the field immedi- on Sunday.

: ?     .       .   P   7 A4 .#   AC ,-C Talking about the batting unit, Kohli said: “I think we ndia skipper Virat Kohli on gave ourselves the best chance. - 4          !  .           IFriday questioned his team’s “Hardik’s innings was the            )         body language after the open- best example of that. As a bat-              .# ing ODI loss and said Hardik ting unit we committed nicely Pandya not being fit to bowl is to positive cricket and we are affecting the side’s balance as he going to do that in the future doesn’t have enough all- as well.” rounders at his disposal. Winning captain Aaron “Everyone needs to show Finch said he took his time the intent in the entire 50 early in the innings. overs. Probably, we played 50 “Found it reasonably hard overs after a long time that to get my timing. Took a cou- could have an affect...But hav- ple of chances, got lucky,” he ing said that we have played so said. much ODI cricket that it is not Finch heaped praise on something we don’t know how his teammates for their perfor- to do,” Kohli said in the post- mance despite not being able to match presentation. train much as a unit. “I think the body language “We’ve barely been togeth- in the field wasn’t great after er as a team. Each guy has dif- around 25 overs. It was a dis- ferent strengths and weakness-   4    A4   .        &  appointing part. If you don’t es. You embrace that. Davey  %                   4 take your chances against a top- (David Warner), he’s moving quality opposition they’ll hurt beautifully. His rhythm looked you and that is what happened outstanding. Smudge (Smith) - today.” was different class altogether,” With Hardik Pandya not he said. “Maxi (Maxwell), the yet to fit to bowl, Kohli said it rare ability he’s got to just click is affecting the balance of the his fingers and put pressure on R) %77; team. “We have to find out a the opposition.” way to get few overs from Steve Smith, who was   AC ,-C and that has allowed him to trav- part-timers. Unfortunately, adjudged the Player of the el to the NCA and start his reha- someone like Hardik is not match, said the superb innings he BCCI finally cleared the bilitation,” BCCI Secretary Jay ready to bowl yet, we have to by Finch (114) and Warner (69) T“confusion” on why Rohit Shah said in a statement after accept that, we don’t really gave him the license to thrill as Sharma did not travel with the Kohli expressed his displeasure have all-round options as such he smashed a 66-ball 105 to team to Australia hours after cap- over the lack of information on right now,” he said. take Australia to 374 for 6. tain Virat Kohli complained of Rohit’s fitness on Thursday. “That is an area to be “Have been searching for “lack of clarity”, stating that the He is likely to miss the open- looked at, it is a big part in any something for a couple of top batsman had to be in ing two Tests because of the 14- team’s balance, someone like months now. About three days Mumbai for his ailing father day hard quarantine rules in the Marcus (Stoinis), Maxwell ago something just clicked. after the IPL. host nation. bowling a few overs for My rhythm came back, every- Apart from this, the Board Shah clarified that the white Australia helped.” thing came back,” he said. said senior-most fast bowler ball vice-captain had come back Kohli said his bowlers “Finchy and Davey played Ishant Sharma is ruled out of the to Mumbai after the IPL in the couldn’t pick regular- very well early on. We could Test series, starting December 17, UAE to attend to his ailing father ly and it allowed the come in and be aggressive. as he will not be match-fit in after which he reported to the Australians to post a big total Wasn’t thinking too much out time. National Cricket Academy in the end. there, just seeing the ball and The Board reiterated Kohli’s (NCA) in Bengaluru. “The key to winning games hitting it. Was seeing the ball assertion that Rohit’s fitness will “He (Rohit) is presently is picking up wickets, that is well. It was a good surface. be up for a review on December undergoing rehabilitation at the something we were not able to “Nice to contribute to a 11, following which a call would NCA. Mr ’s next do, also lapses in the field good win. Need a bit of luck in be taken on whether he can be assessment will be conducted on were also a reason why we this game sometimes, nice to there for the Tests. December 11th following which couldn’t capitalise on any kind ride it today (getting his LBW “Rohit Sharma had to come the BCCI will have clarity on his of momentum, the pressure overturned),” he said referring back to Mumbai after the IPL to participation in the upcoming that we created in early part of to the LBW decision which was attend to his ailing father. His Border-Gavaskar Trophy in the innings.” overturned. father is now recuperating well Australia,” the statement read.