The Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Raipur hosted a significant international match in 2023, marking its entry into the elite list of Indian cricket venues. The stadium, which had previously been a venue for IPL matches, welcomed its first-ever One Day International on Friday, March 24, 2023. This historic game was the second match of a three-ODI series between India and Australia.
A Pivotal Match in the Series
Coming into this Raipur ODI, the Indian team was leading the series 1-0 after a convincing victory in Mumbai. The stakes were high for Australia to level the series, while India aimed to clinch it with a game to spare. The Raipur pitch, known for being batting-friendly, promised an exciting contest between bat and ball.
The Indian captain for the series, Rohit Sharma, won the toss and elected to bowl first. This decision was influenced by the potential for dew to play a factor later in the evening, making bowling second more challenging. The Australian innings never quite found its rhythm against a disciplined Indian bowling attack.
Indian Bowlers Dominate the Day
The star of the show was undoubtedly pacer Mohammed Shami, who delivered a magnificent spell. He exploited the conditions brilliantly, finishing with exceptional figures of 3 wickets for just 17 runs in his 6 overs. His early breakthroughs put Australia on the back foot immediately.
He was ably supported by the spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja. Kuldeep weaved his magic, taking 3 crucial wickets for 41 runs in his 10 overs, while Jadeja maintained relentless pressure, conceding only 36 runs in his 10 overs and taking a wicket. The Australian batting lineup crumbled under this combined pressure and was bundled out for a modest total of 188 runs in 35.4 overs. Only Mitchell Marsh (66) and Steve Smith (49) offered substantial resistance.
India's Comfortable Chase and Series Victory
In response, the Indian chase was led confidently by its top order. While Rohit Sharma fell early, Shubman Gill played a composed and match-winning innings. He remained unbeaten on 104 runs, scoring his fourth ODI century and guiding the team home without any major hiccups.
Gill found a reliable partner in Virat Kohli, who contributed a steady 31 runs. The duo ensured India chased down the target comfortably in just 39.5 overs, losing only 3 wickets in the process. This comprehensive 6-wicket victory sealed the ODI series for India with an unassailable 2-0 lead.
The match concluded with Shubman Gill being awarded the Player of the Match for his superb, unbeaten century. The victory was a testament to a complete team performance, featuring a dominant bowling display followed by a clinical chase. This successful hosting has bolstered Raipur's credentials as a capable international cricket venue for future assignments.
