India triumphed over Australia, claiming a 20-run victory and securing a 3-1 lead in the 5-match series. Axar Patel's pivotal wickets and Rinku Singh's explosive shots sealed the win for the Men in Blue.
Axar Patel's bowling wizardry shone as he dismantled the Australian lineup, sending Travis Head, Aaron Hardie, and Ben McDermott packing. Meanwhile, Ravi Bishnoi showcased excellent form, nearly claiming more wickets.
The match kicked off with a bang as Ravi Bishnoi dismissed Australia's opener, Josh Philippe, on his first ball. Despite a fiery start from Travis Head, India managed to hold ground, with Rinku Singh and Jitesh Sharma steering the team to a competitive score of 174/9 in 20 overs.
However, India faced some setbacks, losing quick wickets like Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, and Ruturaj Gaikwad. Yet, Rinku Singh's impressive performance on the crease kept spirits high, treating viewers to a display of powerful shots.
The game saw ups and downs, with Aaron Hardie claiming India's first breakthrough by dismissing young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal. As the match progressed, the battle intensified, with India's vice-captain, Shreyas Iyer, joining Ruturaj Gaikwad.
The showdown took place at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. This fourth match of the five-game T20 series had India aiming to seal the series against reigning champions, Australia.
India has historically dominated Australia in T20s, winning 17 out of 29 encounters, while Australia claimed victory in 11 matches, with one ending without a result. The recent trend favored India, securing four wins out of their last five clashes. India's consistent performance in the series reflected their overall prowess against the Aussies.
Raipur's cricket ground, a relatively new venue for international games, often favors bowlers more than batsmen. Only once in 29 T20 matches here has a team breached the 200-run mark. Despite this, India's batting lineup exhibited exceptional skills in previous matches, promising a spirited performance in this encounter.
Earlier in January 2023, the stadium witnessed an ODI between India and New Zealand, ending in a comprehensive win for India with Mohammed Shami earning the Player of the Match title for his remarkable 3/18 performance.
Both teams fielded their best XI for the pivotal encounter:
India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Jitesh Sharma(w), Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Deepak Chahar, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar
Australia: Josh Philippe, Travis Head, Ben McDermott, Aaron Hardie, Tim David, Matthew Short, Matthew Wade(w/c), Ben Dwarshuis, Chris Green, Jason Behrendorff, Tanveer Sangha
Key highlights from the match:
- Rinku Singh and Jitesh Sharma formed a crucial partnership for India's total of 174/9.
- Australia's chase began with Travis Head and Josh Philippe.
- Deepak Chahar and Mukesh Kumar spearheaded India's pace attack.
- Ravi Bishnoi claimed the initial breakthrough by dismissing Josh Phillippe.
- Axar Patel's pivotal strikes sent Travis Head, Aaron Hardie, and Ben McDermott back to the pavilion.
- Despite conceding runs, Deepak Chahar secured the crucial wicket of Tim David.
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