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'TOP FIVE REASONS'

Australian comeback series win after going down in the first two games helped them clinch their first ODI series against India in India since 2009.  The Aussies are the only team to replicate this in a test series, beating England 3-2 in the 1936-37 Ashes, after losing the first two tests

#5 Patrick Cummins peaks at the right time in white ball cricket

Pat Cummins in action
Source: Google

With 14 wickets in his kitty, Pat Cummins emerged as the leading wicket taker in the series.  He was the major destroyer as he rattled timber more often than not.  Hitting the early-mid 140’s mark on a consistent basis and with immaculate precision, 5 of his 14 wickets included the big three of the Indian line-up, Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.  He bowled short of good length and in particular troubled Sharma and Kohli with the ball seaming in.  Yet to prove his mettle in white-ball cricket, Cummins showed grit, effectiveness and determination on docile and flat tracks in India that paved way for a series victory.

#4 Rishabh Pant’s questionable form with bat and gloves

Rishabh Pant during a practice session
Source: Google

Young Keeper batsman Rishabh Pant failed to prove his mettle with bat and gloves. Seen as a replacement for M.S Dhoni, Pant’s inability to match the keeping standards raised many eyebrows as he missed a crucial stumping of Ashton Turner in the 4^th ODI.  Playing under the pressure of making it to India’s World Cup squad, Pant threw away his wicket easily by playing irresponsible shots.  He tried to hit the ball out of the park when his main focus should have been to rotate strike and construct the innings.

#3 India tied down due to continuous chopping and changing

Indian think tank (from left): M.S Dhoni, Ravi Shastri and Virat Kohli
Source: Google

The unsettled and experimental Indian batting lineup was tested against the semi new ball of Adam Zampa, Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis.  The 3^rd- 4^th wicket partnership could only add 89 runs in all of 5 matches.  Since 2017, 11 players have auditioned for the number 4 slot, none however have been able to back themselves by numbers for a serious claim.  Three different players- Ambati Rayudu, Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant tried filling the spot without much luck.  At a time when India needs a structured and long innings in the middle overs, M.S Dhoni emerges as the best bet to lay a strong foundation for the likes of Hardik Pandya/Vijay Shankar/Rishabh Pant and end the innings in style.

#2 Zampa’s old school leg breaks

Adam Zampa after taking a wicket
Source: Google

Adam Zampa’s disciplined line and length troubled the Indians from the word go. 

Rated highly in the domestic circuit, Zampa cramped the likes of Virat Kohli and M.S Dhoni with his impeccable line, pitching the bowl around middle and off.  The leg spinner tied down the Indian batsman who love to use their feet and drive through the covers.  Bowling wicket to wicket and attacking the stumps, Zampa’s sliders and wrong ‘uns kept in check Kohli’s inside-out shots on the off side.  He out-bowled Kuldeep Yadav and emerged as the best spinner in the series, bagging 11 wickets.

#1 Usman Khawaja teaches how to play spin

Usman Khawaja after scoring a ton
Source: Google

In the absence of David Warner, Usman Khawaja finally came into his own in the limited overs format scoring two fifties and two hundreds and deservedly walking away with the man of the series award.  But this controlled domination over the sub-continent pitches is a reward of a long process that started from the India A tours in 2015 and 2018.  Endless spin training sessions by former Indian all-rounder Sridharan Sriram and his two apprentices- leg spinner Pardeep Sahu and left arm wrist spinner KK Jiyas explain Khawaja’s improved footwork against Kuldeep Yadav, charging down the track and not allowing the ball to turn as well as using the sweep to good effect against Ravindra Jadeja.

Joe Root explaining the technique to play leg-spin

Source: YouTube