Rohit Sharma and team India edged out Australia in a hugely entertaining 3-match T20I series as the Men in Blue came back from 1-0 behind in Mohali to seal the win in Nagpur and Hyderabad. It was a closely fought encounter between the two cricketing giants, with all three matches going to the final over.
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Virat Kohli carried his fine form from the Asia Cup into the series against Australia, with the number three taking team India home in another pressure run chase in the third T20I in Hyderabad. Chasing 187, Kohli walked to the crease in the second over of the innings and batted throughout the entire innings to anchor India to victory in the decider. Although his strike rate was still on the lower side considering the conditions, Kohli ensured team India didn’t lose any more wickets in the powerplay while also stitching a century partnership with Suryakumar Yadav in just 10.2 overs.
The key to Virat Kohli’s resurgence has been his insistence on playing proper cricketing shots rather than unconventional slogs, and this return to form is one of the most positive signs for the Indian cricket team heading into the T20 World Cup.
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Cameron Green has given the Australian selectors an almighty problem ahead of their T20 World Cup campaign. The Australian all-rounder was by far and away the visitors’ best player in the series against India, scoring 118 runs at a strike rate of 214, including the fastest half-century by a T20I batter against the Men in Blue. Green used his height, long levers, and phenomenal bat swing to great effect in the powerplay as he demolished the Indian bowling attack across all three matches.
He even showcased some of his skills as an all-rounder with a tidy spell of 0-14 in three overs in Hyderabad. Green will be replaced by David Warner in the Australian XI for the World Cup, but the defending champions may have a better chance of retaining their title if the all-rounder is somehow shoehorned into the squad within the next few weeks.
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Suryakumar Yadav cemented his position as one of the best T20I batters in world cricket with another superlative showing at home against Australia. Yadav finished as team India’s highest run-getter in the series, scoring 115 runs in three innings at a strike rate of 185. The Mumbai Indians star also jumped to the top of the run-scoring charts for T20I batters in 2022, with 682 runs at a strike rate of 183 this calendar year.
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It was a promising maiden foray into international cricket for Tim David, who showcased his fantastic range as a power-hitter in the third T20I in Hyderabad against team India. The middle-order batter rescued Australia from 117 for six in the final encounter with his maiden half-century in T20I cricket for the defending champions. The Western Australian hit four sixes in his monster 27-ball 54 that propelled the team to 186 for six, showcasing his phenomenal range and power at the death overs.
David’s pyrotechnics has given the Australian selectors a headache ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup, with one of Marcus Stoinis or Steve Smith expected to drop out of the XI to make way for the Mumbai Indians star.
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There’s an argument that Axar Patel is a better fit for the Indian team than the man he replaced due to injury, Ravindra Jadeja. Axar offers more utility as a spinner than Jadeja with his ability to bowl in the powerplay, and the left-hander is also a better hitter of spin. These qualities were on full display in the series against Australia as Axar Patel was awarded man of the series award for his eight wickets at a brilliant economy of under 8.
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It was a series to forget for Bhuvneshwar Kumar with the ball. The veteran pacer conceded an unprecedented 13 runs an over across the two matches he bowled in this series and was taken apart by the Australian bowlers in the powerplay and at the death. Kumar also picked up just a single wicket in seven overs bowled in this series, and there may be some question marks over his place in the side for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
[Featured Image Credit: ANI]
Shivaan Shah