Aussies fail to capitalise as India cruise home

Australia's misfiring middle-order let slip a chance to ease concerns ahead of the World Cup as a superb century opening stand propelled India to a comfortable five-wicket win in the first ODI in Mohali.

Sent in by stand-in India skipper KL Rahul, all five of Australia's number three to seven batters made it past 25 but none could reach 50 as the run out of Adam Zampa from the final ball of the innings ensured they were bowled out for the fourth match in a row.

There were no such concerns for the hosts as Shubman Gill and Ruturaj Gaikwad cantered to triple figures without loss in a touch over 15 overs. They were particularly impressive punching boundaries through the field off the front and back foot as Australia's bowlers hardly troubled the dynamic opening pair.

Adam Zampa (2-57) switched ends with success, halting the partnership on 142 when Gaikwad – called up to replace rested skipper Rohit Sharma – aimed a sweep on 71 but was struck on the pad plumb in front.

It was Gill's fourth time past 50 in six knocks this month following his 302 runs at 75 in the Asia Cup, firing an ominous message to his World Cup opponents as one of the form batters heading into the global 50-over showpiece.

But he became Zampa's second victim on 74 (63) as the leg-spinner briefly pulled his side back into the contest, with India losing their first three wickets in the space of nine runs to slip to 3-151.

It could have been four too if he hadn't spilled a return chance off Rahul (58no) when the Indian captain was on one.

He made the most of the life, guiding his side home with eight balls to spare in a fifth-wicket stand of 80 with Suryakumar Yadav (50), who was also put down by Marcus Stoinis on 23 from a low caught and bowled chance.

Returning skipper Pat Cummins (1-44) and Sean Abbott (1-56) were the other Australian wicket-takers in an attack missing key members Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood (rested), with allrounders Stoinis (0-40 from five) and Cameron Green (0-44 from six) both conceding more than six runs per over.

David Warner's run-a-ball half-century at the top provided the backbone of Australia's 276 at IS Bindra Stadium on Friday.

Mohammed Shami (5-51) did the bulk of the damage with a career-best five-wicket haul, nicking off Mitch Marsh (4) in the first over. Warner and Steve Smith started watchfully before the opener found his groove, hitting six fours and two sixes as he brought up his 29th one-day international fifty from 49 balls.

He was out four deliveries later for 52, miscuing a heave on the leg side off Ravindra Jadeja to Gill in the deep.

From there it was a familiar story of late for Australia's middle-order as Smith (41), Marnus Labuschagne (39) and Green (31) all threatened to put the tourists in control but couldn't capitalise on promising starts.

Smith looked solid in his first match back from a wrist injury before having his leg stump uprooted by Shami, while Labuschagne, who is potentially one score away from cementing his place in Australia's World Cup 15, was in equally as good touch until his ill-fated demise.

Having survived a run out chance when wicketkeeper Rahul failed to gather the incoming throw with the right-hander stranded mid-pitch following a mix up with Green on 11, Labuschagne then gloved an attempted reverse-sweep off Ravichandran Ashwin and was fractionally outside his crease when the ball bounced off the Indian skipper's pads and onto the stumps.

It was the first of two Rahul fumbles that led to wickets with Green run out seven overs later when he was sent back by Inglis attempting a second bye after the gloveman let it through his legs.

With Alex Carey rested, Josh Inglis (45 from 45 balls) – gave selectors something to ponder to help solve Australia's middle-order woes by taking his tally to 95 runs in his last three hits – lifted the scoring late as he and Marcus Stoinis (29 from 21) took Australia towards 250.

The visitors then lost 4-8 as Shami returned to clean up the tail before Cummins' nine-ball 21no gave Australia a total to defend.

The two sides head to Indore for the second match on Sunday before the series concludes in Rajkot on Wednesday.

2023 Qantas Tour of India

September 22: India win by five wickets

September 24: Second ODI, Indore (D/N), 6pm AEST

September 27: Third ODI, Rajkot (D/N), 6pm AEST

Australia ODI squad: Pat Cummins (c), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa

India squad for first two ODIs: KL Rahul (c), Ravindra Jadeja, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan , Shardul Thakur, Washington Sundar, R Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna

India squad for the third ODI: Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, R Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj