Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami showcased his skills with a remarkable delivery, sending Australian standout Steve Smith back to the pavilion for 41 during the initial ODI in Mohali on Friday, September 22. Shami, who participated in just two of India’s six matches in the recent Asia Cup, took the place of the in-form Mohammed Siraj in the playing XI. He captured the prized wicket of the dangerous Mitchell Marsh in the opening over of the innings.
Shami made a successful return for his second spell during the 22nd over, and this strategic move immediately paid off with the dismissal of Steve Smith on the third ball of the over. Impressively, this marked the fourth time Shami had dismissed the former Australian captain in ODIs, taking just 109 balls to do so, and Smith averaged less than 30 when facing the Indian pacer.
The delivery, executed with a splendid seam position by Shami, sharply swung back from a good length as Smith attempted an ambitious drive, resulting in an inside edge that crashed onto his stumps.
Here is a video capturing Shami’s superb delivery that led to Smith’s wicket:
Shami Strikes Big Man Steve Smith♥️🔥#INDvsAUS
pic.twitter.com/q5jg3hkLqj— 🚩🇮🇳 𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐇𝐈 𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐇 𝟏𝟖 ❤️ (@KOHLIGOATHAI) September 22, 2023
After the early dismissal of Mitchell Marsh, David Warner and Steve Smith formed a strong partnership, contributing 94 runs for the second wicket before Warner was dismissed for 52, falling victim to Ravindra Jadeja’s bowling. Despite Smith’s departure, Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green currently share an unbroken partnership of 42 runs, taking Australia to a total of 155/3 in 31 overs at the time of writing.
Team India aims to seek retribution for their ODI series loss to Australia in March
The India-Australia rivalry has emerged as one of the most evenly contested battles in recent times, with both teams showcasing their ability to secure victories, even on foreign soil. While the historical head-to-head statistics in ODIs still favor Australia at 82-54, recent encounters have leaned more towards Team India, who hold a 13-10 advantage in their last 23 meetings since 2017.
However, the most recent encounter saw Australia emerge victorious, securing a 2-1 series win in India earlier this year. Despite losing the opening match in Mumbai, the Australian team bounced back to claim victory in the subsequent games at Vishakapatnam and Chennai, ultimately clinching the series.
As the current series serves as a preparation for the upcoming World Cup on home soil, Team India is eager to avenge their previous series defeat. Since the start of the 21st century, the two teams have also engaged in compelling World Cup battles, with Australia winning three encounters and India winning two out of five matches.
Their next showdown is scheduled for the opening match of the upcoming World Cup in Chennai on October 8.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.