IND vs AUS LIVE: Varun Chakravarthy is back!

New batter, and Rohit will apply the pressure on him by bringing back Varun Chakravarthy. Certainly India’s most impactful weapon, at the moment. Can he weave his magic yet again?

Inglis will be hoping to repeat his heroics from the England game. 120* off 86 balls on that day.

AUS 114/3 (22.3)

IND vs AUS LIVE: Close!

Hawkeye shows that it would’ve been ‘umpire’s call’ had Labuschagne taken the review. Tight decision, but India get their big breakthrough. Josh Inglis comes out into the middle. 7 off Jadeja’s over, but the wicket too.

AUS 113/3 (23)

IND vs AUS LIVE: OUT!

Ravindra Jadeja strikes! Labuschagne LBW. He does not take a review after consulting with Smith. That was plumb. Ball drifts back in, Labuschagne is caught on the pads right in front of the stumps. Big breakthrough. End of a 56-run partnership.

OUT – Marnus Labuschagne – lbw Jadeja – 29 (36)

AUS 110/2 (22.3)

IND vs AUS LIVE: 4!

Labuschagne getting the odd boundaries here. Sweeps hard, and sweeps well, into the gap. Couple of bounces, 4, off Ravindra Jadeja’s bowling.

AUS 110/2 (22.1)

IND vs AUS LIVE: Big appeal!

Oh, it is all happening here. Steve Smith goes across his stumps, tries to scoop but can’t. KL Rahul catches. Big appeal by India, but the umpire says no. Doesn’t seem to have taken an edge. India don’t go for the DRS, and smartly so. Ultraedge confirms no edge.

AUS 106/2 (22)

IND vs AUS LIVE: BIG CHANCE!

Dropped? Steve Smith hits it sharply back at Mohammed Shami, towards his left. A really difficult one. Shami sticks his hand out, but the ball ricochets off. Smith survives. 

AUS 106/2 (21.4)

IND vs AUS LIVE: Maiden over by Jadeja

Ravindra Jadeja continues his tight bowling. A maiden over. Second one of the day for India. Axar had bowled one earlier.

Oh, and this is interesting. Change by Rohit Sharma. Mohammed Shami comes back in!

AUS 105/2 (21)

IND vs AUS LIVE: SIX! 100 up

100 up for Australia. With a SIX! Labuschagne gets good connection on this one. Full toss, Labuschagne slogs it over mid-wicket for a maximum. Slightly expensive over, 9 coming off it. Australia going on at a good run-rate, and have kept wickets in hand.

AUS 105/2 (20)

IND vs AUS LIVE: Labuschagne survives!

Big let-off for Marnus Labuschagne! The right-hander tries to slog, does not get the sweet timing. But falls just between two fielders near the mid-wicket region. 

AUS 99/2 (19.3)

IND vs AUS LIVE: Umpire has an objection with Jadeja

Ravindra Jadeja has been forced to take off the tape on his hand, after seemingly an objection from the umpire. The left-arm spinner takes it all off. Right after he takes it off, Jadeja starts bleeding on the hand after a collision with the ground. Shows the cut to the umpire. 

IND vs AUS LIVE: 4!

Much-needed boundary for Australia. Comes after quite a while. First one for Marnus Labuschagne. Plays it ever so late, and times it through third man. 7 off the over. Australia keep the scoreboard ticking.

AUS 91/2 (18)

IND vs AUS LIVE: Jadeja continues the pressure

Ravindra Jadeja bowls out another over, very neat. Keeps the pressure on the Australian middle order, does not allow any loose delivery.

AUS 86/2 (17.3)

IND vs AUS LIVE: Axar back up

Axar bowls out. Six singles from the over. Australia keep the scoreboard ticking, which will be crucial for them.

AUS 82/2 (16)

IND vs AUS LIVE: Injury to Axar?

Axar Patel seems to be suffering a bit of an injury. He has fallen on his neck, and is receiving treatment. Let’s hope he will be okay to carry on. Drinks is taken, meanwhile. A great effort by the Indian spinners to curb the flow of runs after Head’s dismissal.

AUS 80/2 (15.4)

IND vs AUS LIVE: Ravindra Jadeja comes in

Varun Chakravarthy taken off the attack after 3 overs. Jadeja comes in. Rohit Sharma switching between his spinners here like Thanos would with the infinity stones. Very neat over, just 4 off it. Pressure builds on the Aussie middle order.

AUS 76/2 (15)

IND vs AUS LIVE: HUGE CHANCES MISSED!

Two massive chances go begging! First, Varun Chakravarthy spills it at short fine-leg and a run-out chance goes. Then, Axar Patel’s delivery hits the stumps but the bails don’t go off! Drama here, in the 14th over.

Maiden over by Axar.

AUS 72/2 (14)

IND vs AUS LIVE: Axar continues

Axar Patel and Varun Chakravarthy bowling in tandem here. Kuldeep has been taken off the attack. India are piling on the pressure with the spinners here, through the middle overs. Australia’s run rate has gone below 6.

AUS 72/2 (13.4)

IND vs AUS LIVE: Issue with sightscreen

There seems to be an issue faced by the Australia batters with the sightscreen. Slight pause, but play resumes. Varun Chakravarthy is back to bowl his third over. Smith and Labuschagne playing it quite safe.

IND vs AUS LIVE: Umpire warns Shubman Gill

Shubman Gill has been warned by the on-field umpires for throwing the ball too early after taking the catch to dismiss Travis Head. Gill had taken the catch at long-off to send back Head. This time, the dismissal counts.

MCC Law: The act of making a catch shall start from the time when the ball first comes into contact with a fielder’s person and shall end when a fielder obtains complete control over both the ball and his/her own movement.

IND vs AUS LIVE: Tidy stuff by Varun

Varun Chakraarthy continues the good bowling. Keeps it tight. Just 4 singles comes off the second over. A lot of momentum with the mystery spinner, and he is the biggest threat for Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, for now.

AUS 66/2 (11)

IND vs AUS LIVE: Powerplay done

Australia have reached 63/2 at the end of the powerplay. A very good start by India, then a mini-rampage by Travis Head, and then he’s dismissed by Varun Chakravarthy.

AUS 63/2 (10)

IND vs AUS LIVE: Smith, 4!

Steve Smith comes down the track, attacks Axar Patel, gets 4. Over mid-on. Final of the powerplay, and Australia are trying to take advantage.

AUS 62/2 (9.2)

IND vs AUS LIVE: Marnus Labuschagne comes in

Marnus Labuschagne joins Steve Smith in the middle. Varun closes out his over tidily.

AUS 58/2 (9)

IND vs AUS LIVE: Magical Varun!

Varun Chakravarthy has weaved his magic once again. What an enormous moment. The man with the golden arm, at the moment. Travis Head has to depart for 39. 6th wicket of the tournament for the mystery spinner.

Big setback for Australia.

IND vs AUS LIVE: OUT!

VARUN STRIKES! Travis Head is gone. Head tries to go big, miscues it, and a simple catch at long-off by Shubman Gill! That’s the big, big, big wicket for Team India.

OUT – Travis Head – c Gill b Varun – 39 (33)

AUS 54/2 (8.2)

IND vs AUS LIVE: Varun Chakravarthy enters the attack!

Right, this could get exciting! Varun Chakravarthy is in. The danger man, the mystery man. Can he give India a big breakthrough?

IND vs AUS LIVE: Big appeal!

Close! Travis Head moves away from his stumps, Kuldeep follows him. Ball passes between the bat and the pad, and in fact, kisses the pad before going to KL Rahul’s glove.

Just the one 6 off the over, and five dots.

AUS 53/1 (8)

IND vs AUS LIVE: 50 up for Australia!

Another 6 from the bat of Travis Head. Comes down the track against Kuldeep, clears the ropes with ease. Straight, high and handsome. Super stuff.

AUS 53/1 (7.2)

IND vs AUS LIVE: The perfect counter-attack by Australia

From a score of 4/1 after 3 overs to 47/1 after 7. 44 runs in 4 overs. Electric batting, led by the destructor-in-chief, Travis Head.

IND vs AUS LIVE: Hardik Pandya goes slower ball

Hardik switches up the pace of his delivery. First a slow cutter, angling outside off-stump. Then, the slowsest bouncer you’ll ever see! It is called a wide.

AUS 47/1 (7)

IND vs AUS LIVE: 4 more, Head!

Travis Head picks up his fifth 4. Slammed through mid-wicket. Exquisite timing.

AUS 45/1 (6.4)

IND vs AUS LIVE: Now 4 for Smith!

Hardik Pandya changes ends, as Shami is taken off the attack. Second ball, Steve Smith goes after him. Lofts it over square leg, first 4 for the captain.

AUS 40/1 (6.2)

IND vs AUS LIVE: Spin introduced

An early change by Rohit Sharma. Kuldeep Yadav comes to bowl the 6th over. What a shift of gears by Australia, and it has forced Rohit into a change.

Five singles in the over.

AUS 36/1 (6)

IND vs AUS LIVE: Travis Head is back

Travis Head vs India, today:

After 10 balls faced: 1 run

After 20 balls faced: 26 runs

IND vs AUS LIVE: 4, 4, 4!

Three boundaries in a row! Travis Head is on an absolute rampage here. Hit hard, through the point region. Head is on FIRE.

AUS 31/1 (5)

IND vs AUS LIVE: Luck going Head’s way!

Big inside edge, and goes for 4! Lady luck is now on Travis Head’s side. Two boundaries in a row.

AUS 27/1 (4.4)

IND vs AUS LIVE: 4!

Travis Head is getting into his groove here. Shami offers him room, Head cuts it with enormous force. Through the covers for 4.

AUS 23/1 (4.3)

IND vs AUS LIVE: Chance!

Travis Head and Steve Smith try to sneak in a quick single, but the ball went to Ravindra Jadeja. He fires at the non-striker’s end, but misses the stumps. Direct hit, and Head would’ve been gone.

It is all happening out here in Dubai.

AUS 17/1 (4)

IND vs AUS LIVE: 4, 6!

That will help ease Travis Head. Opens his arms for the first time, hammers it hard through the covers.

Next ball, SIX! Flick of the wrist, over square leg, all the way! Has Head broken lose at last?

AUS 16/1 (3.4)

IND vs AUS LIVE: Slowest-ever start by Travis Head!

A remarkable stat here. As per Ravi Shastri, this is the slowest start by Travis Head in ODI cricket. 1 run off 11 balls here, for Travis Head.

AUS 6/1 (3.2)