Can KL and Axar Steer India to Victory Against Australia?
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Synopsis
In a rain-affected ODI, KL Rahul's impressive performance alongside Axar Patel helped India reach a total of 136/9 after a shaky start. Australia now needs 131 runs to claim victory. Dive into the thrilling highlights from this intense encounter at Optus Stadium!
Key Takeaways
- KL Rahul played a crucial innings scoring 38.
- Axar Patel provided valuable support with 31.
- Top order collapse placed pressure on the team.
- Rain interruptions significantly impacted the match.
- Australia needs 131 runs to win under the DLS method.
Perth, Oct 19 (NationPress) KL Rahul scored 38 runs off 31 balls, with essential contributions from Axar Patel, who made 31, and debutant Nitish Reddy providing a late surge, allowing India to reach 136/9 during a rain-affected 26-over innings in the first ODI against Australia at Optus Stadium on Sunday.
With the implementation of the DLS method, Australia now requires 131 runs to claim victory in 26 overs.
The match was curtailed to 26 overs per side due to repeated rain delays. Initially, the Australian bowlers excelled after winning the toss.
Josh Hazlewood made an early impact, removing India’s ODI returnee Rohit Sharma for just 8 runs off 14 balls. The Australian celebrations intensified as Mitchell Starc took out Virat Kohli and Nathan Ellis dismissed the newly appointed skipper, Shubman Gill.
India’s batting lineup faced significant challenges, struggling to build momentum following the top order's collapse amidst consistent rain interruptions.
Hazlewood struck again by dismissing Shreyas Iyer, who was just beginning to find his form. This marked the seventh occasion Hazlewood has dismissed Iyer in their last thirteen innings across formats.
Following yet another rain break, the Indian team found some relief through the aggressive batting of KL Rahul and Axar Patel. Axar contributed 31 runs from 38 balls before falling to a dismissal.
As the innings drew to a close, Rahul showed no restraint, hitting Matthew Short for a couple of sixes in the 21st over, propelling India past the 100 run mark.
Despite the challenging conditions favoring bowlers, Rahul received support from Washington Sundar, although Sundar was dismissed shortly after by Matthew Kuhnemann in the 24th over.
Debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy joined Rahul as they aimed to finish strongly, but Rahul’s innings ended at the hands of Mitch Owen. Harshit Rana was also dismissed on just his second ball as Owen claimed two wickets in that over.
In the concluding over, Arshdeep Singh was run out, but Reddy capitalized on the remaining deliveries, hitting two sixes, leading India to finish their innings at 136/9.
Brief Scores: India 136/9 in 26 overs (DLS method) (KL Rahul 38, Axar Patel 31; Josh Hazlewood 2-20, Matthew Kuhnemann 2-26) against Australia.
Point of View
This match showcases the unpredictable nature of cricket, especially under challenging weather conditions. The resilience shown by India's middle order, particularly through KL Rahul and Axar Patel, reflects the potential in our squad to adapt and recover. As we move forward, strategies must evolve to tackle such tests effectively.
NationPress
19/10/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What was India's total score in the match?
India scored a total of 136 runs in their innings.
Who were the standout players for India?
KL Rahul with 38 runs and Axar Patel with 31 runs were the standout players for India.
How many runs do Australia need to win?
Australia needs 131 runs to win the match.
What caused the match to be reduced to 26 overs?
Multiple rain interruptions caused the match to be reduced to 26 overs per side.
Who took the most wickets for Australia?
Josh Hazlewood was the most successful bowler for Australia, taking 2 wickets for 20 runs.
