Video: Heroics by Pandya, Dhoni see India home against Australia

India beat Australia in the rain-affected opening match of the series that set the visitors a T-20 style run chase.

Indian cricket player Hardik Pandya, left celebrates with captain Virat Kohli, center and Kedar Jadhav after taking Steven Smith's wicket. Source: AAP Image/AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade

Hardik Pandya's blistering knock of 83 runs off just 66 complemented by Mahendra Singh Dhoni's composed 79 off 88 had India record a comfortable win over Australia at Chennai's MA Chidambaram stadium in the opening contest of the five-match series.  

Watch- Hardik Pandya's knock of 83 runs off just 66 balls

 

India posted 281 for seven despite losing early wickets winning the toss and opting to bat first.

India lost half of its batting lineup before reaching 100. But Pandya's career-best knock and Dhoni's poised 79 propelled India to a comfortable 281.

They put up a 118-run stand for the sixth wicket with Pandya taking the attack back to the opposition with some brilliant sixes while Dhoni once again played the role of sheet anchor to perfection.

Pandya's 66-ball innings had five boundaries and five sixes -- four of which were hit off leg-spinner Adam Zampa's over.

Australia were set a revised target of 164 off 21 overs via Duckworth-Lewis method after intermittent showers during the break.

Indian cricket player Mahendra Singh Dhoni bats during the first one-day international cricket match between India and Australia in Chennai on Sunday. Source: AAP Image/AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade

Chasing the target, Australia did not have the best of starts and kept losing wickets at regular intervals with Hardik Pandya proving his mettle with the ball as well. He bagged two wickets, conceding 28 runs.

Australia lost their top four batsmen in eight overs with a just over four runs an over scorning rate. Though allrounder Glenn Maxwell gave a flash of his brilliance with the bat scoring 39 from just 18 balls, hitting three back-to-back sixes off Kuldeep Yadav. But Maxwell's dismissal precipitated Australia's defeat, concluding the innings at 137 for 9, falling 27 runs short of the victory mark.

Indian cricket player Hardik Pandya bats during the first one-day international cricket match between India and Australia in Chennai on Sunday. Source: AAP Image/AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade

 

Indian allrounder Hardik Pandya Pandya was named Player of the Match for his dazzling knock with the bat and his performance with the ball.

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