The first T20I match between Team India and Australia ended without any result due to persistent rain at the Manuka Oval.
Having won the toss, Australia skipper Mitchell Marsh elected to bowl first against Team India. Opening the innings for the “Men in Blue”, explosive opening batsman Abhishek Sharma departed after scoring 19 runs. Facing 14 balls, the left-hander had smashed four boundaries during his innings.
Shubman Gill and skipper Suryakumar Yadav were unbeaten at the crease when the match was called off. Facing 20 balls, Gill garnered 37 runs, which included four boundaries and a maximum. On the other end, Yadav was unbeaten on 39 runs off 24 deliveries, which were laced with three boundaries and two maximums.
Nathan Ellis managed to claim one wicket bowling 1.4 overs and conceding 25 runs. Josh Hazlewood bowled three overs and gave away 24 runs. Xavier Bartlett and Marcus Stoinis were smashed for 16 and 10 runs in two and one over, respectively.
Matthew Kuhnemann also bowled two overs and was smashed for 22 runs.
As Team India engaged in the five-match T20I series against Australia, the visitors suffered a huge blow. Young all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has been ruled out for the first three T20I matches against the Aussies due to neck spasms.
Earlier, the right-hander was ruled out of the third ODI in Sydney due to a quadriceps injury and has sustained a new niggle.
The visitors have suffered a 1-2 loss in the three-match ODI series. They will be eager to clinch the T20I series, as the contest will serve as a preparatory series for T20 World Cup 2026.
The second T20I match between Team India and Australia is scheduled to be played on Friday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
IND vs AUS T20Is: Squads
India’s T20I squad: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill (VC), Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Sanju Samson (WK), Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar.
Australia`s squad for the first two T20I matches against Team India: Mitchell Marsh (c), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Mitchell Owen, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Tanveer Sangha.
