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India crush Australia in rain-hit ODI – ARN News Centre
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India batsmen Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer scored centuries to lay the platform for a 99-run win over Australia in their rain-hit second one-day international (ODI) in Indore on Sunday that sealed a 2-0 series victory ahead of the World Cup.
A revised victory target of 317 in 33 overs following a rain interruption left Australia facing a daunting task and they ran out of steam after David Warner’s departure for a defiant half-century, as India prevailed via the Duckworth-Lewis method.
Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, playing in only his second ODI this year, got rid of Australia’s dangerous batsmen to end with 3-41 after pace bowler Prasidh Krishna’s early double strike.
Asked to bat first on a good Holkar Stadium wicket by stand-in Australia captain Steve Smith, top-ranked India posted a huge 399-5 in 50 overs as opener Gill continued his superb form with a fifth ton this year and sixth overall.
The 24-year-old began cautiously but built momentum to make 104 off 97 balls, with six fours and four sixes, while Iyer gave him good company with 105 from 90 balls as the pair tore into the Australian attack without rested skipper Pat Cummins.
Iyer’s third century in the format will be a huge confidence boost after the 28-year-old missed the Indian Premier League and the World Test Championship final earlier this year with a lower back injury that required surgery.
He also missed much of India’s triumphant Asia Cup campaign with a back spasm but showed he was in fine fettle heading into the World Cup on home soil next month, with 11 fours and three sixes in a controlled 200-run second-wicket stand with Gill.
Home skipper KL Rahul made a steady 52 in the middle overs before Suryakumar Yadav heaped the misery on Australia, striking four consecutive sixes off Cameron Green in the 44th over en route to a 37-ball 72.
Australia started shakily as Krishna removed Matthew Short and Smith off successive balls before rain briefly halted play with the tourists mounting a fightback at 56-2.
Left-hander Warner went on the offensive after play resumed and displayed his ambidexterity by batting right-handed against Ashwin, but was trapped lbw for 53 as he looked to switch back and raise the scoring rate.
Warner bizarrely did not review the umpire’s decision as television replays showed he edged the ball onto his pad.
Ravindra Jadeja (3-42) then got in on the act as Australia fizzled out for 217 after a battling 54 by Sean Abbott.
India, who rested several frontline players for the first two games, will eye a clean sweep when the teams meet in Rajkot on Wednesday. They begin their World Cup campaign on October 8 against Australia.
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As Norway Chess 2026 gets underway in Oslo, all eyes are once again on the growing rivalry between D. Gukesh and Magnus Carlsen, a clash that has become one of modern chess’s biggest storylines.
Tournament organisers have confirmed the reigning world champion and former world number one will face each other twice during this year’s event, first on May 28 and again on June 5.
The rematch already carries extra intrigue after last year’s dramatic showdown, when Carlsen reacted emotionally after losing to the teenage Indian sensation, a moment that quickly went viral across the sporting world.
Speaking ahead of the tournament, Gukesh kept things calm when asked whether he expected another fiery reaction from the Norwegian superstar.
“My job is to play chess. That is within my control,” said the 19-year-old world champion, who turns 20 later this week.
But the Indian grandmaster also admitted that moments of emotion and rivalry are helping chess attract a wider audience globally.
“Chess players generally don’t show a lot of emotions, but when it did happen, a lot of people got attracted to chess,” Gukesh said.
“I feel that chess players generally expressing more is fun to watch.”
This year’s tournament also marks a major commercial moment for the sport. Earlier this year, Erling Haaland invested in Norway Chess and its new Total Chess World Championship Tour project, another sign of chess crossing deeper into mainstream global sport.
The event has also started building stronger Gulf connections. Last year’s Norway Chess Open featured Rouda Al Serkal, the GCC’s first woman grandmaster, reflecting the UAE’s growing presence in international chess.
The 2026 edition features another elite field in both the Open and Women’s tournaments.
In the Open section, Carlsen opens against Alireza Firouzja, while Gukesh begins his campaign against Vincent Keymer. R Praggnanandhaa will face Wesley So.
The women’s competition includes reigning world champion Ju Wenjun, Koneru Humpy, Anna Muzychuk and rising Indian star Divya Deshmukh.
Running until June 5, Norway Chess continues to position itself as one of the sport’s premier events, blending elite competition, viral rivalries and growing global appeal far beyond the traditional chess audience.
Photo credit: Norway Chess / Michal Walusza
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