AUS vs IND |Twitter incensed as rain plays spoilsport in India’s defeat in Perth opener

Rain played spoilsport in the first ODI of India’s tour of Australia as the game was called off following multiple rain interruptions in Perth. India were on the backfoot, with the entire top order back in the hut, before the game was finally called off as the series heads to Adelaide.

Winning the toss, Australia sent India into bat first with overcast conditions on offer on the fast track in Perth. The hosts got off to a perfect start when Rohit Sharma failed to get on top of a Hazelwood delivery, only to edge one to Matt Renshaw at second slip. The incoming Virat Kohli did not look very comfortable from the get go and he, too, threw away his wicket while chasing a ball outside off stump - his first duck in 30 ODI innings in Australia. With the score at 21/2, India needed their leadership team to step up and consolidate the innings. It wasn’t meant to be as Shubman Gill feathered a ball down leg stump right into the gloves of Philippe to bring an end to an uncharacteristically rigid 18-ball 10 innings. While Axar and Iyer stood their ground, the rain came in which led to the first of many delays. When the game restarted as a 49 over match, the duo tried to get going without too many risks taking India’s score to 27/3 in 10 overs. With the score at 37/2 at 11.5 overs, the rain was back and this time it took another 14 runs off the match. 

No sooner had the game restarted that the players headed back into the dressing room but not before Hazlewood had sent Iyer packing as well. This was followed by two more rain delays with the final decision being the overs revised to a 26-over game. Following the restart, Axar and Rahul came out of the boxes flying with a couple of boundaries off Mitch Owen before smashing Nathan Ellis for three. In a desperate attempt to up the scoring rate, Axar holed out to Renshaw at long on with the scoreboard reading 84/5 at the end of 20 overs. With no sixes in the first 20 overs, Rahul got two on back to back deliveries off Short to ensure India went into triple digits with five overs left. With Matthew Kuhnemann yielding just nine runs in his two overs which sandwiched an eight run Ellis over, Australia had regained their foothold in the game. While Owen bowled a brilliant five run-two wicket penultimate over, Nitish Reddy ensured India had wind in their sails with a 13 run last over to take the score to 136/9 in 26 overs. 

Defending 131, due to DLS rule, India got the start they needed with the wicket of Travis Head in the second over, albeit at the expense of a couple of boundaries. Mitch Marsh and Short ensured that there was no collapse as the duo put away the bad balls, whilst playing a conservative brand of cricket, to take the score to 38/1 by the end of the sixth over. The introduction of Axar yielded Short;s wicket as he edged one to Rohit at short third man. However, Marsh ensured that the scoring rate remained consistent taking the score to 55/2 at the end of 10 overs to leave the equation at 76 needed of 16 overs. 

With the next two overs leaking 12 runs, the game was well and truly in Australia’s hands. Axar and Rana conceded at eight an over over the next two overs before Reddy and Sundar added to the tally with an 11-run over in his first foray with the ball to make the chase a cakewalk for the hosts. Sundar ended Philippe’s 29-ball 37 when the glovesman mistimed a shot to Arshdeep at long leg, giving India some hope. That faded away quite quickly when Sundar and Arshdeep conceded 15 runs in the 18th and 19th over. Matt Renshaw and Marsh saw out the rest of the game as Australia walked away with their first over ODI win, by seven wickets, at the Optus stadium.

What an Effort!

— Robinson (@Robinson966715) 

Stunning!

Effort of the Day DSP Siraj 🫡🔥 

— THAKUR (@JThakur29) 

Captain innings!

Mitchell Marsh batting and captaincy both have been top notch today 🙌🙌



Made india go absolutely clueless

— Tanish (@raavi_tanish) 

Lead from front!

This version of Mitchell Marsh looks scary, he is so consistent in scoring runs.  

— ₭₳₦Ø₴👑🦁 (@Vikash_11497) 

Rain Pause!

Another rain break at the Optus Stadium.  

— SAHIL NAGPAL (@Pavilionpulse) 

Momentum Lost

It's difficult to gain momentum in batting, when the rain keeps interrupting! for the fourth time since the start 😡    

— Rukshi Khan (@Rukshi_khan_) 

Big Sad

The crowd came for fireworks, but RO-KO departed early — and the rain added to the disappointment. 🇮🇳💔☔



Gotta feel for the crowd in Perth! 🌧️🥲     

— Rohit & Virat (@CricketMat9391) 

Play On

GOOD NEWS FROM PERTH



The rain has stopped

And covers are removed 

— Gulshan Singh (@moohfatladka) 

Emotional Game😅🌧️

Rain and Australia are playing with their emotions... 

— Asad Alauddin Khilji (@mohammadasad956) 

HaHa!

When the rain stops ➡️😁



When the rain comes back ⛈️ ➡️



Your reactions ?  

— Leojack (@Leojack6315581) 

Rain Trouble

Now only rain can do a lot in this Cricket Match! Tough day for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma fans.  

— Rishabh Datta (@rishabhdatt) 

🗿

Rain saving Australia from the wrath of KL Rahul today.🗿📈  

— 𝐋𝐎𝐑𝐃 ⁰¹ ♛ (@lordKlrahul) 

Perth Curse

Australia never win a match at Perth ... Today Rain is also not allowing to break ...

— Godisgreat (@Godisgreat01431) 

Lol!

Even rain is crying again and again because Ro Ko didnt get runs. 

— Parah Advitiya (@nkp_spot) 

Rain Easing

Within a few minutes rain is likely to move away from  and no major disruption likely thereafter    

— Kiran (@MetKiran)