Forgettable return for Rohit, Kohli as Oz take lead in truncated clash

AFTER weeks of build up, days of anticipation and planning last minute Diwali shopping around Saturday morning, the hype, it's fair to say, was a let down.

- SWAROOP SWAMINATHAN

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, making a return to India colours in the only format they feature these days for the national team, lasted for a combined eight runs and 22 balls in a 30minute period where both of them displayed lots of ring rust.

It's only natural that they struggled for rhythm and timing but both of them will want better returns when the second match of the ODI series shifts to Adelaide on Thursday. The match itself, Shubman Gill's first as skipper in this format, was a forgettable affair for the tourists. The toporder couldn't come to grips with the extra bounce and the stop-start nature of the contest the rain Gods made frequent appearances in the first innings didn't help. After Gill & Co. limped to 136/9 in 26 overs, the hosts, propelled by Mitchell Marsh's unbeaten 46, cantered past the line with seven wickets and 29 balls to spare.