India vs Australia, 1st ODI Highlights: Rahul and Jadeja's heroic partnership guides hosts to five-wicket win in Mumbai

21:02 (IST)

That brings us to the end of our coverage of the opening game of the three-match ODI series between India and Australia in Mumbai. On behalf of my colleagues at the Firstpost sports desk, this is Amit signing off, wishing you all a good night!

21:01 (IST)

India vs Australia 1st ODI LIVE Score

Ravindra Jadeja is the Player of the Match for his all-round contribution (2/46 and 45 not out and an incredible catch to dismiss Marnus Labuschagne)

20:53 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE Cricket Score

At 39/4, India’s hopes appeared extinguished with Mitchell Starc bowling the spell of a lifetime and putting the Aussies in the driver’s seat. KL Rahul, though had other plans, and brought the hosts back on their feet with two match-saving partnerships in the company of skipper Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja, the second one guiding the Men in Blue home.

India will have concerns regarding their top order heading into the remaining games at Visakhapatnam and Chennai, the way their middle order fought back today along with their all-round bowling performance will certainly give them a lot of confidence.

Australia skipper Smith, meanwhile, will be ruing his decision of bringing Starc back for his final two overs after the game had well and truly slipped out of their grasp following a 17-run over from Zampa.

20:46 (IST)

IND vs AUS 1st ODI LIVE SCORE

KL Rahul (75* off 91): Saw three wickets fall down really early and Starc was swinging the ball really well. Just wanted to bat the first 15-20 balls and take it from there. Just wanted to play normal cricket shots and not go searching for runs. Couple of boundaries early on settled my nerves. Whoever I batted with, the talk was obviously there is a bit of help in the wicket but we can’t go into our shell. Get some runs is the only way you can put pressure on the bowler. We wanted to run hard and put the loose balls away.

20:42 (IST)

IND vs AUS 1st ODI LIVE SCORE

After 39.5 overs,India 191/5 ( KL Rahul (W) 75 , Ravindra Jadeja 45)

FOUR! Jadeja hits the winning boundary off Starc, going for an aerial drive wide of mid on, as India win by five wickets with more than 10 overs to spare, going 1-0 up with two games to go!

And what a partnership between Rahul and Jadeja, worth 108 and one that proved to be the difference in the end! And Rahul will certainly have regained the faith of the team leadership and silenced his critics with what is one of his more memorable knocks under pressure.

20:37 (IST)

IND vs AUS 1st ODI LIVE SCORE

FOUR! Flicked over the square leg region by Jadeja off Starc! India 187/5; need 2 to win from 63 balls

20:37 (IST)

IND vs AUS 1st ODI LIVE SCORE

The partnership between Rahul and Jadeja hits the century mark, with India on the brink of going 1-0 up at the Wankhede! Rahul brings up the milestone with a single off Starc, with the pair consuming 127 deliveries along the way. Outstanding stuff from the middle-order pair, rising to the occasion at a time when the Aussies were breathing down their necks. India just one hit over the fence away from a win now! IND 183/5

20:34 (IST)

IND vs AUS 1st ODI LIVE SCORE

After 39 overs,India 181/5 ( KL Rahul (W) 74 , Ravindra Jadeja 37)

Five off Abbott's penultimate over, including a brace to Rahul off the fifth ball after getting an inside nick through the square leg region, leaving India needing just 8 to win from 11 overs. Rahul/Jadeja could pull this off with a couple of hits to the fence from here.

20:29 (IST)

IND vs AUS 1st ODI LIVE SCORE

After 38 overs,India 176/5 ( KL Rahul (W) 70 , Ravindra Jadeja 36)

Smith brings Abbott and Starc back into the attack, but it might be a tad bit late for the Aussies to mount a fightback, specially after that 17-run over from Zampa which has put the Men in Blue on the brink of victory at the Wankhede. With plenty of overs left in the chase, Rahul and Jadeja happy to do the job in singles right now. Nine off the last two. India need 13 from 12 overs.

20:22 (IST)

What a way to silence once's critics

An excellent knock from @klrahul here in Mumbai when the going got tough!#TeamIndia 22 runs away from victory.

Live - https://t.co/8mvcwAwwah #INDvAUS @mastercardindia pic.twitter.com/Ct4Gq1R1ox— BCCI (@BCCI) March 17, 2023

20:19 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE SCORE

After 36 overs,India 167/5 ( KL Rahul (W) 66 , Ravindra Jadeja 32)

FOUR! Rahul plays this late off Zampa and drives it superbly behind point to collect his seventh boundary. SIX! Rahul follows it up with an even mightier hit over the wide long on fence for his first maximum of the evening two balls later. What adds to Zampa and Australia's woes in this over is the four wides conceded by the leg-spinner between the four and the six. India need just 22 off 84 now!

20:13 (IST)

India vs Australia 1st ODI LIVE Score

After 35 overs,India 150/5 ( KL Rahul (W) 54 , Ravindra Jadeja 32)

FOUR! Slashed hard behind point by Rahul off a back-of-length delivery from Green, bringing up the 150 for the Men in Blue in the process! Collects the boundary right after bringing up his fifty. Partnership's worth 67 off 99 deliveries. India need another 39 to win off 90 balls.

20:10 (IST)

India vs Australia 1st ODI LIVE Score

Fifty to KL Rahul  — his 2nd in ODIs this year and his 13th overall in the format! Brings up the milestone with a single off Cam Green in the 35th over. Takes 73 balls to bring up the milestone, collecting five boundaries along the way. IND 145/5

19:59 (IST)

India vs Australia LIVE SCORE

After 32 overs,India 133/5 ( KL Rahul (W) 44 , Ravindra Jadeja 26)

The fifty partnership — the first of the Indian innings — comes up between Rahul and Jadeja at the end of the 32nd over, with the pair consuming 76 deliveries in what has been a patient stand so far. The milestone comes up with a leg bye after Stoinis hits Rahul on the front pad and appeals unsuccessfully for a leg-before.

19:56 (IST)

India vs Australia LIVE SCORE

FOUR! Short and wide from Stoinis, and Jadeja has little problem cutting this square towards the vacant point boundary for third boundary. IND 131/5; need 58 off 110

19:52 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE Cricket Score

After 31 overs,India 124/5 ( KL Rahul (W) 42 , Ravindra Jadeja 20)

Edged... and safe! Green manages to create a chance after being brought back, inducing an outside edge off Rahul's blade, with Smith getting his fingertips on the ball after leaping to his right. Rahul collects a single off the reprieve. Jadeja, meanwhile, attempts to charge down the track later in this over, but his on-drive is intercepted at mid on.

19:48 (IST)

IND vs AUS LIVE Cricket Score

After 30 overs,India 122/5 ( KL Rahul (W) 41 , Ravindra Jadeja 20)

Maxwell continues after the drinks interval while Smith decides to give Starc a break and brings Stoinis, who removed Pandya, back. Eight off the last two overs, including a brace to Jadeja that takes him to 20, leaving India needing 67 off 120.

19:41 (IST)

Let's see what Vizag and Chennai have in store!
 

Why can't all ODIs be on pitches like this beauty at Wankhede?

What an engrossing game!— Nitin Sundar