Team India claimed yet another series win over the Australians this past week as a young team-led by Suryakumar Yadav hammered the visitors by a margin of 4-1 in a 5-match T20I rubber.
It proved to be a high-scoring series, where totals in excess of 200s were a norm. India gunned down a record 209 in the 1st match before posting an insurmountable 235/5 in the 2nd.
The Aussies hit back in the 3rd match as they chased down 223 thanks to a breathtaking assault from “Big Show” Glenn Maxwell. The last two T20Is proved to be low-scoring ones comparatively as India went on to defend 174 and 160 with ease.
Talking Points From India’s T20I Series Triumph Over Australia
Yashasvi Jaiswal - An unhinged intent machine
The talented southpaw continued to take giant strides in international cricket during the course of this 5-match series.
Unhinged intent at the top of the order is what Team India has been craving for in this format since a long time, and Yashasvi seems to be a perfect answer for that. The stylish opener may not have scored big runs in the series, but he kept giving his team brisk starts in the powerplay.
In 5 matches, Jaiswal scored 138 runs at a strike rate of 168.29, with his best outing coming in the 2nd T20I, where he hammered a breathtaking 25-ball 53 to set the platform for the hosts to rack up 235/4 in 20 overs.
Read: Lotus in the Making: Yashasvi Jaiswal's Journey from Struggle to Success
Middle-order Enforcers- Rinku Singh & Jitesh Sharma
One of the areas where Indian T20I batting line-up has struggled in the past decade is fearless power-hitting at No.5 & 6, and this series showcased that they may have found a solution to it in the form of Rinku Singh and Jitesh Sharma.
Fresh from his exploits in the IPL, Rinku carried the same form in Indian colours in this series as he consistently provided his team with a match-winning impetus.
His 22” (14) helped India chase down 209 in the first match. Rinku followed this with a breathtaking 9-ball 31* in the 2nd match to help the home side post 235/4.
In the 4th match, we saw another side of Rinku as he, along with Jitesh, weathered the storm after India had been reduced to 66/3, and ended up posting a match-winning 29-ball 46.
Overall, the southpaw scored 105 runs in 4 innings @ 52.50/175.00.
His partner-in-crime during the 4th T20I Jitesh Sharma, too carried his IPL and domestic form into international cricket as he showcased incredible temperament in his very first outing.
Sharma smashed a 19-ball 35 with the help of 3 sixes and a four, and it was his 56-run-stand with Rinku that helped India post a match-winning total.
He followed it up with another impactful 16-ball 24 in the final T20i to again help India rack up an eventual match-winning total, and assert that he is here to stay.
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Ice-Cool Mukesh Kumar thrives under pressure
The right-seamer showcased his worth in this series as he took on the mantle of delivering the tough overs for his team in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah.
Mukesh may have taken just 4 wickets in 4 outings @ 36.50, but he stepped up for the team at the death more often than not by nailing yorkers consistently.
In the 5th T20I, he conceded just 12 runs in as many deliveries at the death to help India pile on the run-rate pressure, and eventually restrict Australia to 154/8.
Ravi Bishnoi- The Man for Pressure Situations
During the course of these 5 T20Is, leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi established himself as the leader of the attack as the captain kept turning towards him to bowl the ugly overs, and the Rajasthan leggie ensured that he stepped up to the occasion more often than not.
Bishnoi delivered 7 overs in the powerplay, and conceded just 45 runs @ 6.43, and most of his 5 wickets came off the first delivery of his spell.
Overall, the feisty cricketer finished as the leading wicket taker with 9 wickets @ 18.22/8.20 and was rightly adjudged the “Player of the Series”.
All-round Axar Patel proves his worth again
After missing out on the World Cup party, Axar Patel showcased his all-round worth to the hilt in this series as he stepped up with both bat and ball at different junctures.
He came to his own in the last two matches especially as he chipped in with priceless cameos down the order besides bowling with discipline and venom.
In the 4th match, his spell of 3/16 (4) helped India restrict the Aussies to 154/7 while defending 175, and then in the following match, the southpaw chipped in with an all-round performance- 31 (21) & 1/14 (4)- to win yet another ‘Player of the Match’ award.
As the dust settles on this electrifying series win, one thing remains certain: the future of Indian cricket is looking bright. From the fearless intent of Jaiswal to the calculated aggression of Rinku and Jitesh, the middle-order is finally finding its voice. And with Bishnoi's spin wizardry and Mukesh's cool head under pressure, India has unearthed a potent bowling cocktail. This isn't just a series win; it's a statement of intent, a declaration that a new generation of heroes is ready to take the mantle and paint the cricketing world blue. So, buckle up, because the ride is just getting started!
Featured Image Credit: BCCI
