Sydney, Nov 29: India skipper Virat Kohli had no qualms conceding that the visitors were outplayed by a confident and ruthless Australia in the series-deciding second ODI here on Sunday, pinning the blame on the ineffective and inconsistent bowling by his side.
India suffered a 51-run drubbing in the second ODI on Sunday to concede an unassailable 2-0 series lead to Australia in the three-match series. The visitors had lost the opening match by 66 runs in another high-scoring game. “We were completely outplayed. I think with the ball, we were not that effective, we didn’t hit the areas that we wanted to consistently and they have a strong batting line-up, they know the conditions and the angles well,” Kohli said .
Chasing Australia’s 389, India finished at 338 for 9 with Kohli (89) and KL Rahul (76) being the top-scorer. “Look at the scoreboard, we got 340 and still fell short by 50 odd, so the chase always felt steep and we knew one or two wickets would take the required rate to up to 13, 16 and so we had to keep hitting,” the India skipper said. “They took the chances that they created in the field, which was the difference, otherwise it would have been a much closer game.” “…credit to them, they bowled much more consistently and used the dimensions well.” Kohli said the two catches which led to his and Shreyas Iyer’s (38) dismissal were the “defining moments” of the game.
“Me and KL (Rahul) were talking if we stick around till 40-41 (overs), even 100 in last 10 overs with Hardik to come, it was game on,” he said. (PTI)
