India vs Australia 2020/21 ODI Series Review

India vs Australia 2020/21 ODI Series was one of the most anticipated tours in world cricket in a long long time. The Coronavirus pandemic had robbed the cricket world from any international action for several months. The fans of both these nations were licking their lips in anticipation of this series. And boy did it not disappoint. 

After 3 ODIs, 3 T20 matches and 4 grueling test matches, Team India finally returned home victorious, in one of the most memorable tours of their entire history.

New heroes were discovered, while some stalwarts upped their already high standards to ensure that the visitors win 2 of the 3 series they played. Let’s take a look at how the 3 ODIs played out, compared to our cricket betting previews.

ODI 1 – India vs Australia 2020/21 at Sydney Cricket Ground

Australia won the toss and elected to bat on a sunny summer day in Sydney, where the first India vs Australia 2020/21 ODI Series match was about to take place. The pitch looked fantastic to bat on and so it proved. David Warner (66) and captain Aaron Finch (114) both gave the home side a flying start with a brilliant opening partnership.

After Warner’s dismissal, in came Steven Smith in a very destructive mood, smacking 105 runs in just 66 balls, studded with 4 sixes and 11 boundaries. A typical late flurry of boundaries from Glenn Maxwell (45 off 19) saw Australia pile on a mammoth total of 374/6 in their 50 overs. Among the Indian bowlers, only Mohammed Shami had a noteworthy outing, picking up 3 wickets for 59. 

The Indians started brightly with a flurry of boundaries from opener Mayank Agarwal and the experienced Shikhar Dhawan. However, they then lost quick wickets including the big one of Virat Kohli and found themselves at 4 for 101.

In came Hardik Pandya, who had no plans of giving up without a fight. Together with Dhawan (74), he piled on 128 runs for the 5th wicket, smashing a brilliant 90 off 76 balls, with 4 sixes. Despite valiant efforts from the lower order, India fell short by 66 runs. 

Steve Smith was adjudged as the man of the match for his swashbuckling innings. 

India vs Australia 2020/21 ODI 1 Betting Review

In our cricket betting tips for the first India vs Australia 2020/21 ODI Series match, we had predicted that Australia will win this match, at odds of 1.61. Australia were heavy favourites. We had also predicted that Australia will hit the most sixes at 1.90 and that they will have the highest opening partnership.

All 3 of our predictions came true, but the last one of Bumrah being India’s leading wicket-taker was inaccurate, as it was Mohammed Shami with 3 wickets. All odds were taken from Leo Vegas India.

ODI 2 – India vs Australia 2020/21 at Sydney Cricket Ground

After a brilliant victory in the first match, Australia again won the toss and elected to bat on the same pitch, which was undoubtedly perfect for batting.

The openers again started brightly, with a 142 run opening stand, before Finch departed on 60. Warner (83), and then Marnus Labuschane (70) ably supported the ever brilliant Steven Smith, who again tormented the Indian bowling attack to hit back-to-back stunning centuries, as he ended on 104 off just 64 balls.

Another late blast by Glenn Maxwell (63 off just 29) meant this match almost mirrored the first match, as the hosts again piled on a mammoth total of 389, with all of their top 5 batsmen going past the 60-run mark. None of the Indian bowlers enjoyed any considerable success in a draining outing. 

In reply, the Indian openers started brightly before Shikhar Dhawan was dismissed when the score was 58. Shreyas Iyer scored a gritty 38 and appeared to build a decent partnership with captain Virat Kohli but was dismissed soon.

A brilliant 75 run partnership between Kohli (89 off 87) and KL Rahul (76 off 66) gave India some hope in the middle before the skipper departed. Despite some decent knocks down the order, India finished at 338 and lost the match by 51 runs, losing the 3 game series in the process. 

Steve Smith was adjudged as the man of the match for the second game running, after another brilliant century helped his team win the second match of the India vs Australia 2020/21 ODI Series.

India vs Australia 2020/21 ODI 2 Betting Review

While we predicted India to win the second match of the India vs Australia 2020/21 ODI Series in our betting preview and got that one wrong - we got our other 3 predictions correct as Australia hit the most sixes in this match. They had the highest opening partnership and Bumrah was India’s top bowler in this match. 

ODI 3 – India vs Australia 2020/21 at Manuka Oval, Canberra

After back to back defeats meant that India had already lost the 3 game series to Australia, the onus was on them to bounce back to record a victory, even if just for pride. India finally won the toss this time and elected to bat, which looked like a good decision looking at the flat hard surface.

Despite a shaky start, captain Virat Kohli stabilized the innings with a well-paced 63, however by the time he departed India were already down to 152 for 5. With a 3rd straight defeat looming large, all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja had other plans, as both struck magnificent unbeaten half centuries for a 150-run partnership.

Pandya hit 92 off 76 balls while Jadeja hit 66 off 50 balls to take India to 302 in 50 overs. Ashton Agar was the pick of the bowlers, taking 2-44 in his 10 overs. 

In response, Australia lost both of their most consistent batsmen cheaply, as Labuschane and Smith both departed on 7. Captain Aaron Finch stood firm at the top with a well-made 75 and was ably supported by the rest of the batting order.

A 3rd consecutive late blast by Glenn Maxwell (59 off 38) almost took Australia home, but they eventually fell short by 13 runs. Shardul Thakur was the pick of the Indian bowlers as he picked up 3 wickets for 51 runs. 

Hardik Pandya was adjudged as the man of the match for his brilliant innings of 92 as India defeated Australia in the third match of the India vs Australia 2020/21 ODI Series.