Crazy summer has Pete primed for UK

Peter Handscomb's rollercoaster summer continued in Mohali overnight as the Victorian hit new heights with a maiden ODI hundred in Australia's record-breaking run chase against India.

Handscomb's first one-day international century worth 117 from 105 balls was the backbone of the successful pursuit of 359, Australia's greatest-ever run chase in 50-over cricket, to lock the series at 2-2 with one match to play.

The 27-year-old looks right at home in Australia's ODI middle order, but six months ago he was overlooked for the white-ball matches against South Africa and India on home soil and seemingly considered a red-ball only batsman.

Struggles in the Domain Test Series against India saw him lose his spot in the Test XI only to be one of the surprise selections for the three-match Gillette ODI Series in January off the back of an impressive JLT One-Day Cup campaign with Victoria.

Now as the summer winds down before a hectic winter in the United Kingdom with a World Cup, Ashes series and multi-format Australia A tour to come, Handscomb appears entrenched in the 50-over side and looks a real shot to make at least one, if not two of those overlapping campaigns in England.

So how does Handscomb wrap his head around how this season's gone? He starts with a wry smile.

"It's a fickle game," he said after Australia's remarkable win. "I'm just pumped to be in an Australian team.

"Obviously, it was shattering to get dropped from the Test squad, it was something I'd been priding myself on, trying to be a strong red-ball player for Victoria and always pushing my case for Australia.

"So that hurt. But on the flipside, to now be pushing my case in white-ball (cricket), it's a beautiful feeling and how quickly the highs and lows change within cricket."

Handscomb played his role at No.4 with perfection in Mohali, just as he did for Victoria when he led his state to the JLT One-Day Cup title at the very start of the domestic season.

Walking out to a hostile environment with the scoreboard reading 2-12 and requiring a further 347 runs to win in 46.3 overs could have been daunting for some, but Handscomb and Usman Khawaja calmly ticked off the runs and looked relatively unbothered for most of their record stand.

Together, the pair put on 192 for the third wicket, Australia's highest third-wicket partnership against India in India, to build the launching pad for rookie Ashton Turner to launch from in the back end of the innings.

Handscomb hit eight fours and three sixes, with two of those maximums off consecutive deliveries from off-spinner Kedar Jadhav to take him into the nineties.

There was some doubt whether he hit his 100th run – an awkward short ball that got tangled up and fended away to gully – but the umpire ruled runs and a reserved Handscomb celebrated and saluted his teammates.

He was out 13 deliveries and 17 runs later top-edging a catch to long-off having failed to completely get to the pitch of the ball but his contribution had been immense.

"I'm pretty happy," he said. "I didn't know if I was ever going to play a one-dayer again.

"It's funny how things change but it was nice to get that opportunity in Australia and take it, then to have faith (from) the selectors to keep me in, it was nice to get (his maiden hundred) today.

"It was pretty special."

Qantas Tour of India

First T20: Australia won by three wickets

Second T20: Australia won by seven wickets

First ODI: India won by six wickets

Second ODI: India won by eight runs

Third ODI: Australia won by 32 runs

Fourth ODI: Australia won by four wickets

Fifth ODI: March 13, Delhi