India vs Australia 2019: 3 unnoticed things from the 2nd ODI

After winning the first ODI, India started the second ODI high on confidence. Aaron Finch won the toss, and to everyone’s surprise, decided to chase. India had a poor start as they lost both the openers rather early.

Virat Kohli and Ambati Rayudu stitched together a small partnership before Rayudu fell to Lyon. Vijay Shankar then provided some momentum to the innings, but got out in unlucky fashion. Jadhav and Dhoni followed soon.

It was the Indian captain, Virat Kohli, who stood out fromm the rest and scored an excellent century.

The Aussies had an excellent opening partnership of 83 runs, but the Indian spinners started building pressure, and kept taking wickets at regular intervals.

The match went down to the last over with the onus on Vijay Shankar. The all-rounder held his nerve, and won the match for India.

Let us have a look at some of the things that might have gone unnoticed:

#1 Virat Kohli’s amazing conversions (50s to 100s)

Virat Kohli, the Indian run machine, proved yet again today why he is the best batsmen in the world. He also became the fastest to 9000 ODI runs as a captain.

In his breathtaking knock of 116 in just 120 balls, Virat, for the sixth consecutive time, converted a 50+ score to a century, in India.

His last six 50+ scores in India (ODI):

121

113

140

157*

107

116 (today)

Virat also became the first player to score seven or more centuries against three different teams in ODIs. Such amazing consistency in any sports, at any level, is rarely witnessed.

With his 40th ODI century today, Virat is well on course to break Sachin’s record of 49 ODI centuries. Team India will hope that their captain continues to pile up these runs and take the team to even greater heights.