Australia beat India by 2 wickets to win ODI series

Rohit Sharma’s defiant 73 went in vain as India surrendered the three-match ODI series to Australia after losing the second game by two wickets here on Thursday, a setback that will reignite the debate on proven match-winner Kuldeep Yadav’s omission from the playing XI.

Under pressure, Rohit mixed grit with grace in a 97-ball knock on a spicy track, which formed the cornerstone of India’s total of 264/9 — a total that was at least 25 runs short of what should have been a par



score.

In reply, Australia struggled against Indian spinners but, with Nitish Reddy being shoehorned as a multi-skilled player instead of a genuine match-winner in Kuldeep, the visitors paid the price in a close finish.

Cooper Connolly (61* off 53 balls) and Mitchell Owen (36 off 23 balls), two cricketers who are also auditioning for the IPL, flayed the pacers and spinners alike as Australia survived a late collapse to canter home in 46.2 overs, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.