Shikhar Dhawan roared back to form with a career-best innings and Rohit Sharma struck an impressive 95 to power India to 358 for 9 – the highest score of the series so far – in the 4th ODI against Australia at Mohali on Sunday.
Dhawan, who was horribly out of form going into the last two games before the World Cup, smashed 143 off 115 balls, hitting 3 sixes and 18 fours in a flawless innings.
Dhawan’s 16th ODI ton came after an elongated lull period of 18 innings, in which he had managed only two fifty-plus scores. This was the longest Dhawan had to wait for a three-figure score since getting his first in 2013 against Zimbabwe.
Opting to bat first after winning the toss, India made full use of the best batting conditions of the series so far. Rohit and Dhawan, who had not put on a fifty-run stand in 6 innings, stitched a 193-run opening stand – the highest Indian opening partnership against Australia in ODIs – to lay the foundation of a big score.
Rohit, unfortunately, missed his century when he tried to hit Jhye Richardson for a six but ended up hitting it straight down the throat of Peter Handscomb at square leg for 95.
On a ground where it all started with a dream Test debut back in 2013 against the same opposition, the southpaw decided to ease any worries that the team management had with regards to his form going into the World Cup.
With left-arm seamer Jason Behrendorff and premier speedster Pat Cummins feeding him on his legs, Dhawan got a flurry of boundaries inside the first six overs.
There is a saying about Dhawan that if he gets a cover drive in the initial overs, he is a difficult man to stop.
On a track, where the bowlers needed to pitch it further up, the Aussies bowled short and it helped Dhawan to muscle it through the mid-wicket region repeatedly.
Glenn Maxwell's (0/61 in 8 overs) venom-less off-breaks were like cannon fodder for Dhawan, who deposited two half-trackers for maximum.
Rohit also gained in confidence as lofted Adam Zampa (1/57 in 10 overs) for a huge six. Skipper Aaron Finch (/22 in 3 overs) introduced himself but his friendly slow left-arm bowling was treated with contempt by Rohit.
He picked up Richardson's slow bouncers and guided one behind square and pulled one in-front. However, in his bid to reach the three-figure mark with a six, perished for 95.
KL Rahul, who was playing in place of Ambati Rayudu, joined Dhawan in the middle as the latter pressed his foot on the accelerator. Dhawan got to his hundred in 97 balls and then scored his next 43 runs in just 18 balls.
He looked good for a double hundred but was out trying to give Cummins the charge.
The stage was set for Rahul (26, 31 balls) and Rishabh Pant (36, 24 balls) to get at least a quick-fire half-century but both wasted their opportunities even as Vijay Shankar (26 off 14 balls) ensured that India crossed 350.