KL Rahul scored a fantastic unbeaten 75 as India defeated Australia by 5 wickets in the first one day international at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Friday.
After being asked to bat first by stand in skipper Hardik Pandya, Mohammed Siraj drew first blood by cleaning up left hander Travis Head for 5.
Mitchell Marsh along with Steve Smith added 72 runs for the second wicket stand before the latter (22) fell to a brilliant catch by Rahul off Pandya.
Marsh featured in yet another valuable 52 run stand for the third wicket alongside Marnus Labuschagne before the former was caught at short third man by Siraj off Ravi Jadeja for an entertaining 81. His knock came off 65 balls with 10 fours and 5 sixes.
Labuschagne then fell to a magnificent catch by Jadeja off Kuldeep Yadav at short third man for 15. Shami along with Siraj ran through the visitors lower order as they lost their last 6 wickets for 49 runs. The visitors were eventually bowled out for 188 in 35.4 overs.
Chasing 189, India were rocked early as Ishan Kishan (3) was trapped leg before wicket by Marcus Stoinis that swung back in.
Mitchell Starc then got into the act by dismissing Virat Kohli (4) and Suryakumar Yadav in successive deliveries. Shubman Gill who was dropped on two by wicket keeper Josh Inglis, was finally dismissed caught at backward point by Labuschagne of Starc for 20.
Lokesh Rahul along with skipper Hardik Pandya anchored the innings by adding 44 runs for the fifth wicket before the latter was caught at deep backward square leg by Cameron Green off Stoinis for 25 as the hosts lost half their side for 83.
However an unbroken 108-run stand Rahul (75*) and Ravindra Jadeja (45*) steered India to a win with 61 balls to spare.
The result gave India a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The second one day international will be played in Visakhapatnam on Sunday, 19th March.