India vs Australia 2020 | 3rd ODI, Bangalore: 3 reasons why India won 

India produced a clinical performance to down Australia in the series decider at Bangalore. After the bowlers restricted Australia to a score of 286, the Indian batsmen came out all guns blazing and chased down the target with 15 balls to spare.

It was a clinical all-round performance by the Indian team, and they once again displayed why they are a dominant force in home conditions. With this, the ‘Men in Blue’ also avenged the 2-3 series loss at the hands of the Aussies last year in march, before the World Cup. In this article, let us look at three reasons why India won the match and with it the series.

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#3. The Virat Kohli-Rohit Sharma show

The two batting maestros produced a stellar performance to help India chase down the target

When Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are at their pristine best, batting seems to be a mere extension of the limbs. The two batting maestros came together and produced a stellar performance to help India chase down a sub-par Australian total. While Sharma scored his 29th ODI hundred, Kohli chipped in with a sedate 89 as India beat Australia comfortably by 7 wickets.

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The duo came together after the fall of KL Rahul for 19. Kohli and his deputy put on a 137-run stand for the second wicket and pulverized the Australian bowling attack. While the highlight of Kohli’s innings was a scorching cover drive off Mitchell Starc, the highlight of Sharma's knock was a massive six that he struck off Aaron Finch’s bowling that landed on the top tier of the stands.

Also, Rohit Sharma moved ahead of Sanath Jayasuriya in the list of highest century makers in ODI cricket to occupy the third position while Kohli notched up his hundreth score of 50 or more in ODI cricket.

#2. The bowling spell by Mohammad Shami

Mohammad Shami produced a riveting spell of pace bowling in the third ODI at Bangalore.

Mohammad Shami produced a riveting spell of pace bowling in the third ODI at Bangalore. The speedster was at his menacing best, bowling at vicious pace and rattled the Australian batting line-up. He first removed the dangerous David Warner at the start of the innings and then scalped the crucial wicket of Steve Smith just as he was looking dangerous.

He bowled toe crushing yorkers at the death halted the progress of the Aussie batsmen. Shami also accounted for the wickets of Pat Cummins and Adam Zampa in the final overs of the Australian innings.

Shami took 4/63 in the match, and this was instrumental in India restricting Australia to a total below 300. If not for the speedster's timely breakthroughs throughout the Australian innings, the story of the final ODI could have well been different. Virat Kohli would be mighty pleased with the performance of his ace speedster in the third ODI of the series.

#1. The Australian middle-order collapses yet again

Steve Smith did not receive any support for the Australian middle-order yet again.

Steve Smith was like a lone warrior fighting a battle as the Australia middle order crumbled yet again. After Smith and Marnus Labuschagne put on 127 runs for the fourth wicket, the middle order batsmen did not provide any support for the Australian batting star.

After the departure of Labuschagne, Starc went back for a duck, Alex Carey fell against the run of play for 35, Ashton Turner contributed just 4 and Ashton Agar could muster just 11 runs. Smith was left stranded at the other end as he ran out of partners. In a bid to up the ante, he went for a heave over mid-wicket only to find the fielder. The lack of support for Smith hurt Australia in a big way as they ended up at least 15 to 20 runs short.

And in the end, that could have well made all the difference as Australia lost to the 'Men in Blue'.