2nd ODI: Gavaskar criticises Kohli as Team India bites the bust

Australia clobbered India and inflicted a crushing 10 wicket victory over India in the 2nd ODI of the three-match series, at the YS Rajasekhara Reddy Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam.

A five-wicket haul from Mitchell Starc, followed by top-knocks from Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head laid the foundation for this famous victory.

Opting to bowl first, Australia bundled out India for 117 with Starc taking five wickets while Sean Abbott taking three wickets.

Nathan Ellis also scalped two wickets.

Starc, who had three wickets in the previous game, took 5 for 53 in eight overs, including four in his first spell.

As a result, India were bowled out for their third lowest total against Australia, in just 26 overs.

With nip off the surface providing lot of help, Starc bowled ideal back-of the length deliveries with a couple angled across the right-handers and a few which came in after pitching.

For India, Virat Kohli top-scored with 31 runs while Axar Patel remained unbeaten for 29*.

Later, Marsh and Head brought up their respective half-centuries and remained unbeaten for 66* and 51* respectively as the visitors claimed a 10-wicket win in just 11 overs.

With this win, Australia have levelled the three-match ODI series 1-1.

A worrying aspect for India was the dismissal of Virat Kohli.

Yet again, Kohli became a victim of an LBW dismissal.

The batter was dismissed for 31 runs on the bowling of Nathan Ellis as he missed his flick down the leg side.

His mode of dismissal was similar to that in the first ODI in which a Mitchell Starc delivery hit him on the pad and he had to depart for four runs.

Former India captain and batter Sunil Gavaskar was appalled by the fact that Kohli made the same mistake of playing across the line in the second ODI as well.

“He has played across the line once again. Yes, he knows that (his mistake).”

“That’s something that he is being getting out to quite regularly, playing across the line nowadays.”

“Looking to play towards square leg, not even looking to play towards mid-on, and that’s what gets him into trouble.” said Gavaskar.

Australia 121 for 0 (Marsh 66*, Head 51*) beat India 117 (Kohli 31, Starc 5-53, Abbott 3-23) by 10 wickets

India (Playing XI):

Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, KL Rahul(w), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami

Australia (Playing XI):

Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith(c), Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey(w), Cameron Green, Marcus Stoinis, Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa