IND VS AUS - 2nd ODI, Australia tour of India, 2020

There's no David, there's no Goliath. This ain't no myth. This is India vs. Australia - one of the most fiercely-contested battles of the age, and the Magnum Opus of all ODI contests. When blue meets yellow, the world watches. A comprehensive win for each side, and as clearly as they possibly could, they have announced 2020 open with a admittedly cliched but still equally enthralling approach - Never Back Down. Off to the finale in Bangalore then with the series at 1-1, and it turns out, we're here early - that's Sagar Chawla, Sriram AS, Venky, Akshay Maanay, and yours truly, Rishi Roy as we head home for a quick nap before we turn up for the U-19 World Cup in South Africa tomorrow and of course, the Sunday finale! *Lights out*

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KL Rahul | Man of the Match | 80(52): I couldn't have asked for a better start. Each day I've been thrown different roles and responsibilities and I'm enjoying it for now. Batting at 5, I wanted to give myself a few balls, you know what the wicket is doing and Virat said that it's coming on nicely. A few came off the middle, and I was confident I could score, and everything else faded away. Glad I got some partnerships going and played my role to the best of my abilities. Kuldeep told me my 'keeping was good too. I grew up 'keeping but I didn't do it a lot for my first-class team, but in the last few weeks I did keep for Karnataka, so I've been in decent wicketkeeping touch, so hopefully I can keep my spinners and fast bowlers happy.

Virat Kohli | India captain: We live in the days of social media and the panic button was pressed too early. It's important to not leave someone like KL out. You saw how he batted today. This is probably the best he's played at the international level. The knock showed maturity and class, and we know exactly what we're doing in the dressing room. Important couple of games for Shikhar. He was injured for a long time and in ODIs he's been one of our most consistent and aggressive performers, and he can change the situation for the team. It augurs well when the two openers are so good together. Rohit's left shoulder has popped out of few times, and he should be good to go in the next game. I asked the bowlers what they wanted to do and they said this was the time to execute the yorkers. All three of them were really good with the yorkers, particularly Shami who changed everything in that over. KL is becoming a multi-dimensional player, and it's really great when players step up like this.

Aaron Finch | Australia captain: I didn't expect it to be cold. I didn't think I'd need the long-sleeved sweater. I think we were one wicket shy of where we needed to be throughout the bowling innings, but they're world class. Zampa's length has been fantastic so far. The way Smithy started today, and nearly got through to the end, but not quite. Marnus and Smith, the only time they're apart is when they're asleep. I think on these tracks, it's important to capitalize when the batsman gets in. We were always just one more wicket down than what we'd have liked at any stage of the chase and that's when the required rate started getting out of reach.

Kuldeep: It's been tough four-five months after World Cup, but now I'm getting back in rhythm and bowling really well. Bowled six overs initially, they were batting well both Marnus and Smith. When I came back for the last spell, I was looking for wickets. Found that wicket was slow. Later on, the ball gets softer too. So it's difficult to hit if I bowl slower. Think I'm bowling at the perfect pace and in good areas.

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First win for India in three ODI in SCA Stadium, Rajkot
Lost by nine runs vs Eng, 2013
Lost by 18 runs vs SA, 2015
Won by 36 runs vs Aus, 2020

It all started with Manish Pandey's one-handed stunner

Most runs in an ODI in India without an individual 100
644 Ind(340) v Aus(304) Rajkot 2020
643 Asia(337) v Africa(306) Chennai 2007
641 Eng(325) v Ind(316) Rajkot 2013
637 Eng(321) v Ind(316) Kolkata 2017

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It all began...with Manish Pandey's one-handed stunner to get rid of Warner - India's first wicket over two innings in this series. The back of the openers was good riddance, but they still had the two most timelessly stubborn souls in world cricket to tend to - Steven Smith and Marnus Labuschagne. It really was the Kuldeep over that turned things around. Yes, the exhibition of yorkers at the death was almost too good to be true, but it was Smith. It was always the back of Smith. That's when India breathed easy. Presentations coming up in a moment...

IND 1-1 AUS | 21:33 Local Time: India have risen. They've risen from the humiliation of four consecutive home losses to Australia; from the soul-crushing, gut-wrenching ten-wicket loss at the Wankhede, a venue that has seen many an iconic Indian win and finally, they've responded in an attempt to reinforce the belief that the Wankhede nightmare was an aberration.

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Bumrah to Zampa, out Caught by Rahul! It's all over, as the short ball gets big on Zampa, and he meekly top-edges it off the blade towards Rahul to hand him a simple catch. A 36-run win for India to equalize, scratch that, avenge the humiliating loss at the Wankhede. Zampa c Rahul b Bumrah 6(6) [4s-1]

Bumrah to Zampa, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Shami to K Richardson, FOUR, backs away to another full one, and that's struck flat - just over the outstretched arm of Kohli at mid-off for a boundary! 19 off the over, 36 required for a tie *wink*!

Shami to K Richardson, SIX, half-volley, clubbed away flat to the long-off fence for six! This is an incredible last-resort assault

Shami to K Richardson, FOUR, are you kidding me? If this chase wasn't brain-dead, this shot might've been applauded a little more. Just a low full-toss, jammed into the pitch, and that's bounced over the circle off a block towards the long-on fence for four

Shami to K Richardson, FOUR, he back away and gets under it, heaves across the line and carts it away towards cow corner for four! Immaterial now, but might as well have a hit...