Australia vs India: 3 Things we learnt from the 1st ODI

#1 India’s middle order still looks brittle

Rohit's hundred wasn't able to paper over the middle order cracks

Over the past couple of years, India has barely had any blemishes in ODI cricket. Yet, whenever those have come about, a common thread has been identifiable: a failure of the top order.

In the 1st ODI, the Aussie pacers scythed through India’s top order and left them gasping for air at 4-3. Though MS Dhoni spent some time in the middle to construct a fifty, he was unable to increase the tempo when required.

Rohit struck a stunning century and briefly, ignited hopes of an Indian victory but the middle-order’s spectacular collapse made sure that nothing of the sort happened.

India might get away with such disintegrations in bilateral series. However, in a tournament like the World Cup, they need each of their components in perfect working condition.

At this juncture, India’s middle muddle just keeps getting messier. Despite possessing the problem for a better part of the past couple of years, they are no closer to answering the conundrum.

With only 12 games left before the World Cup, time is running out for India. And if they indeed want to get a 3rd World Cup triumph on the board, they simply can’t crumble under pressure in the middle overs.