Adelaide, Oct 23 (NationPress) Following a two-wicket loss to Australia at the Adelaide Oval, Indian captain Shubman Gill expressed disappointment over the missed fielding opportunities, stating that dropping crucial catches hampered their chances while defending a score of 264.

During the match, India let go of Travis Head’s catch early on, but it was the two dropped chances of Matt Short, who eventually scored 74, that proved detrimental. Gill remarked, “We had just enough runs on the board. It’s never easy to defend a total when you drop a couple of chances.”

He also emphasized that the toss had a significant impact in the rain-affected first ODI, while conditions in the second game balanced out after some initial movement. “The toss was important in the first game due to the rain, but in this match, it wasn’t as crucial since both teams batted for nearly 50 overs. The pitch showed a little more assistance initially, but it settled down after 15-20 overs,” Gill added.

Gill praised Rohit Sharma for his determined innings of 73 off 97 balls, noting, “It’s never easy to return to competitive cricket after a long break. The initial phase was tough, but I’m really pleased with how he performed. He fought hard during that period and was close to a big score.”

Mitchell Marsh, the Australian captain, expressed his joy at winning the series and the vibrant atmosphere created by the crowd. “It’s fantastic to play in front of large crowds in ODI cricket. We’re thrilled to have secured the series. Josh delivered the best ‘none-for’ I’ve ever witnessed, and our batting was outstanding,” he said.

Marsh also commended the impressive performances from Short and Connolly, stating, “The batting from the youngsters was impressive; the future looks bright for Australian cricket. We’ll enjoy this victory, but we have a quick turnaround before the next match. India is a formidable team, so this win is special.”

Adam Zampa, who was named Player of the Match for his four-wicket haul, echoed Marsh’s sentiments, acknowledging the strength of the opposition. “It’s great to defeat India; the contests between our teams have always been intense, especially in ODIs. Both teams have adapted well to the conditions,” he noted.

Zampa credited the pace bowlers for their performance, which eased his job in the latter stages of the innings. “The pacers have excelled in the powerplay for a long time, and I’m grateful for their support. With players like Xavier Bartlett and Nathan Ellis contributing in the middle overs, it makes my role much easier,” he explained.

He concluded by praising Marsh’s leadership, as Australia celebrated an ODI series victory after three consecutive losses. “The beauty of Mitch is his calm demeanor; he’s relaxed and not overly emotional. We manage our strategy on the field,” Zampa remarked.

–IANS