India beat Australia by 26 runs in series opener

Photo: ICC

New Delhi: India registered a thumping victory against Australia by 26 runs via D/L method in the first ODI and now lead the 5-match series 1-0.

On a rain curtailed day, Australia were set a target of 164 runs in 21 0vers but the visitors succumbed to India’s disciplined bowling and were bundled for 137 runs.

India’s Yuzvendra Chahal spinned a web around the Aussie batsmen as he scalped 4 wickets for the hosts and returned with impressive figure of 4/30 runs in 5 overs.

For Australia, hard-hitting batsman Glenn Maxwell topped the scoring chart with 39 runs, playing some big shots but could not take his side to victory.

Earlier, all-rounder Hardik Pandya's blistering 83 complemented by a responsible 79 from Chennai's resident 'Super King' Mahendra Singh Dhoni saw India score a respectable 281 for 7

Pandya and Dhoni scripted a brilliant recovery act after India's top-half was blown away for only 87 runs – courtesy some controlled swing bowling from Nathan Coulter-Nile (3/44) and Marcus Stoinis (2/54).

The duo added 118 runs for the sixth wicket with Pandya taking the attack back to opposition with some brilliant sixes while Dhoni once again played the role of sheet anchor to perfection.

Pandya's 66-ball innings had five boundaries and five sixes -- four of which were hit off leg-spinner Adam Zampa's over.

Dhoni on his part hit four boundaries and two sixes -- both coming down the track and lofting over extra cover off pace bowling. The former skipper played 88 balls. The two sixes were the kind of shots that one doesn't associate with Dhoni -- maximums over extra cover.

Dhoni also added 72 runs for the seventh wicket with Bhuvneshwar Kumar (32 off 30 balls) in only 8.5 overs which took India beyond 280 plus total -- something that looked unlikely at the halfway stage.

Earlier, Coulter-Nile making a comeback to the team after being dropped from Australia's Champions Trophy squad, made early inroads by removing Ajinkya Rahane for 5.

The Mumbai batsman didn't look very convincing in his brief stay.

He was dismissed going for a drive off a swinging delivery from Coulter-Nile only to be caught behind by Wade.

Skipper Kohli shaped for a drive and missed off the second delivery he received after having left the first one alone.

After playing the third towards cover quietly, the captain was on his way after being snapped up the athletic Glenn Maxwell at point going for an expansive drive off Coulter-Nile.

Maxwell did well to time his jump and take a one-handed catch to cut short Kohli's stay at the crease.

Manish Pandey, who got the nod ahead of his Karnataka state-mate KL Rahul, lasted just two balls. He was out fishing at a delivery on fifth stump. India were in dumps at 11 for 3 when Rohit Sharma (28) and Kedar Jadhav (40) revived the innings with a 53-run stand.

Both were out trying to pull short deliveries from Stoinis before Pandya-Dhoni took over.

The two teams will play the second encounter in Kolkata on 21 may.