India vs Aus 3rd ODI: Rohit, Virat Power India to a Series Win

Live updates from the India vs Australia 3rd ODI in Bengaluru.

(Photo: BCCI)

A century from Rohit Sharma, coupled with a fifty from skipper Virat Kohli, guided India to comfortable seven-wicket win against Australia in Bengaluru to clinch the three-match ODI series 2-1 on Sunday, 19 January.

Chasing 287 for a series win, Rohit scored a 128-ball 119, his 29th ODI century, to give India an upper hand in the crucial chase. Rohit’s innings was laced with 6 sixes and 8 fours.

Meanwhile, skipper Virat Kohli (89) brought up back-to-back fifties in the series as he completed a 137-run stand with Rohit for the second wicket.

Coming in at number four, Shreyas Iyer scored a quickfire 44 not out to see India home in the series decider. He had Manish Pandey for company, who was unbeaten on 8.

Shreyas Iyer of India takes a catch of Steven Smith of Australia during the 3rd One day International match between India and Australia.(Photo: BCCI)

Earlier opting to bat, Australia finished with 286/9 as Steve Smith completed his 9th ODI century, scoring 131 off 132 balls.

Mohammed Shami picked two wickets in the 48th over, sending back Steve Smith on 131 and also Pat Cummins on a first-ball duck. Danger-man Smith fell to a brilliant catch by Shreyas Iyer while Cummins was no match for Shami’s pace as he was castled.

Ravindra Jadeja had also picked two in an over, sending back Marnus Labuschagne and Mitchell Starc in the 32nd. Labuschagne and Smith in fact stitched together the visitors’ best partnership of the day, adding 127 for the third wicket.

Ravindra Jadeja of India celebrates the wicket of Mitchell Starc of Australia during the 3rd One day International match between India and Australia.(Photo: BCCI)

With the series on the line and 18 runs on the board, Mohammad Shami made the first breakthrough of the day, sending back David Warner.

The opener nicked one to stand-in keeper KL Rahul who latched onto the opportunity. Warner out on a 7-ball 3 and Steve Smith joined his skipper Aaron Finch in the middle.

While the two started to steady the Aussie innings, the Indian team took a hit with Shikhar Dhawan being forced to leave the field after he hurt his left shoulder while fielding. Dhawan dived to save an Aaron Finch shot in the cover region and hurt his left shoulder in the process.

Shikhar Dhawan walks back to the pavalion after he got injured during the 3rd One day International match between India and Australia.(Photo: BCCI)

The Finch and Smith partnership lasted just 5 overs though as the two were caught in a mix up and in the end, the skipper was found way short of the crease. Run out on 19.

Smith and Labuschagne then added 127 runs for the third wicket before Jadeja’s big over.

The third ball of the 32nd over got him the big wicket - Labuschagne was caught on 54 by Virat Kohli and then Starc lasted just 3 balls before returning for a duck.

Alex Carey scored 35 and Ashton Turner added 4 runs to the score before falling to Kuldeep Yadav and Navdeep Saini.

Earlier, Australia had won the toss and elected to bat first, making just one change. Josh Hazlewood came in for Kane Richardson while India chose to play an unchanged XI.

Australia hammered India in the series opener by 10 wickets and then the hosts made it 1-1 with a victory in Rajkot.

Specialist opener Rahul made the difference in India's innings in the second ODI by batting at a 150-plus strike rate in an unfamiliar position, having batted at three in the previous game. In Rajkot, he batted at number 5 and scored 80.

India vs Aus 3rd ODI Teams

India: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli (captain), Shreyas Iyer, Lokesh Rahul, Manish Pandey, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Navdeep Saini, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah.

Australia: David Warner, Aaron Finch (captain), Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey, Ashton Turner, Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Adam Zampa.