The much-awaited India’s tour of Australia 2018-19 kicked-off with both the teams locking their horns in the 3-match T20 International Series. The pendulum kept swinging both the ways throughout and the Gillette T20I series finally concluded in a 1-1 draw!
It all started in Brisbane when the DLS method favored the hosts and they managed to bag a thrilling series opener by 4 runs. It was definitely a much-needed win for Australia in order to end their bad run in T20Is. On the other hand, it was nothing less than an early wake-up call to Team India for the things to come ahead of them in this crucial tour.
After Brisbane, the rain followed it’s way to Melbourne too. Just when the match seemed to be in the claws of Team India, the rains Gods decided to step up and pour heavily after mere 19 overs’ game-play. Australia certainly took a sigh of relief after this lucky escape, which would have made the series fair and square yet again. The only positive of this match was that it immensely boosted the confidences of Team India’s bowling department.
Australia walked in at Sydney Cricket Ground with a cushioning of not losing the series. Whereas, it was of utmost importance for Team India to make this opportunity count to walk into the Test series without a burden of losing the T20I series. Australia managed to score 164 runs with the loss of 6 wickets in their quota of 20 overs in which, Krunal Pandey proved to be the showstopper in the bowling department for Team India bagging 4 wickets.
Though the target wasn’t so big in terms of 20-overs cricket, it was important for Team India to get off to a good start and the quick-fire 67 opening stand between Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan certainly set the stage for the men in blue but things became worse when Australian bowlers managed to send both of them back one after the another. Virat Kohli decided to step up and walk in at his regular no. 3 and applied all his chasing expertise to level the series. He was well-accompanied by KL Rahul at the start and Dinesh Karthik eventually on the other end.
Virat Kohli certainly played a Captain’s knock and stayed unbeaten on 61 runs after scoring his 19th T20 International half-century at the strike rate of 148.78, which consisted of 4 boundaries and 2 gigantic sixes. Hope his form continues in the Test series too and Team India don the Australian summer in whites as well!