India captain Shubman Gill admitted that dropped catches and a total that was only just adequate cost his side dearly as Australia sealed the ODI series with a disciplined all-round performance on Wednesday. India lost the second ODI by two wickets, following a seven-wicket defeat in the opening match at Perth. Fielding lapses proved costly, with India spilling at least three chances, including a key opportunity against Matthew Short, who went on to score a fine 74 off 78 balls.

"We had just enough runs on the board. It’s never easy when you drop a couple of chances to defend that kind of total," Gill said during the post-match presentation ceremony. The young skipper also noted that the pitch offered no major challenges. "In the first game, the toss mattered more because of the rain, but in this match, both teams played almost 50 overs. The wicket had some movement early on, but it settled nicely after 15–20 overs," he added.

Shubman Gill appreciates Rohit Sharma, Australia impress across departments

Gill praised senior batter Rohit Sharma for his fighting knock of 73. "Never easy coming back and playing after a long time. The initial phase was challenging, but very pleased with how he batted. He fought well; I would say he just missed out on a really big knock," he said.

Australia, led by Mitchell Marsh, displayed depth in both batting and bowling. Marsh lauded his bowling attack and the composure of the younger batters. "Hazlewood was unbelievable. Our bowling unit kept trying to pick wickets. It was awesome batting from the youngsters — the future is bright for Australian cricket. We’ll enjoy the series win, but India is a fantastic side; it’s been a great experience," he said.

Leg-spinner Adam Zampa, Player of the Match for his four-wicket haul, was pivotal in the middle overs. "Nice to beat India. It’s always a good battle against them, especially in one-day cricket. Both teams adapted well to the conditions. They’re the best team in the world," Zampa said. He credited Australia’s pacers for setting up the platform: "Those guys have been owning the power play for a long time… it makes my job easier in the middle. I’ve been very grateful and lucky, and then you’ve got guys like Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis doing their thing. Mitch (Marsh) is chilled, relaxed, never too emotional. We run our own show with the ball," he added.

(With PTI Inputs)