Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav fifties help India hammer Australia by 6 wickets to win T20I series 2-1

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The winning Indian side celebrates with the trophy on Sunday night in Hyderabad

Half-centuries from Suryakumar Yadav and Virat Kohli powered India to 2-1 series win over Australia in a high scoring thriller played at Hyderabad on Sunday night, with the hosts successfully chasing a stiff target to prove their mettle and promise against the world champions led by Aaron Finch. 

While Australia will now head back home to prepare for limited-overs series against the West Indies and England prior to the T20 World Cup 2022 which they will host from October 16, India will remain at home to face South Africa in a three-match T20I and three-match ODI series. 

On Sunday, the crowd at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium — where the police had lathi-charged fans during ticket sales in the lead up to this game — enjoyed high-quality T20 batting from both the sides with young Australian players Cameron Green and Tim David rocking the house. 

After India won the toss and invited Australia to bat, a 19-ball fifty from Cameron Green powered his side in the initial overs while he got no support from the other end. Aaron Finch (7), Steve Smith (9) and Glenn Maxwell (6) failed to trouble the scorers but the onslaught from Cameron Green was enough to keep Australia moving at a high scoring rate, which was later on powered further by Tim David. 

Cameron Green notched up one of the quickest fifties for Australia in the format, eventually finishing at 52 off 21 balls with 7 fours and 3 sixes.

The young dashing batsman Tim David, who also plays for the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), recorded his maiden half-century in the format having made his debut for Australia in the first match of the series. 

The right-handed Tim David hammered 4 sixes and 2 boundaries to score 54 from just 27 balls, thus playing an important role in Australia finishing at a commanding total of 186/7 in their 20 overs. 

Tim David also got plenty of support from Daniel Sams, who played a handy knock of 28 not out from 20 balls, hitting two sixes and a boundary in the process.

For India, while the fast bowlers once again disappointed, spinners Akshar Patel and Yuzvendra Chahal controlled the proceedings in the middle overs. Akshar Patel finished with 4-0-33-3, accounting for all important figures of Australian batting in Aaron Finch, Josh Inglis 24 and Matthew Wade (1). 

India were once again rocked early when their opening batsman KL Rahul walked back to the pavilion in the first over itself but Rohit Sharma showed aggressive intent to provide initial impetus. 

The Indian captain finished at 17 from 14 balls with two boundaries and a six and his dismissal in the fourth over at the total of 30 left a lot of work to be done on the shoulders of Suryakumar Yadav and Virat Kohli.

Suryakumar Yadav and Virat Kohli turned up the heat on Australia with a splendid 104 run stand for the third wicket, which came from only 62 balls and set up the winning platform for India. 

Suryakumar Yadav played yet another typical innings laced with 5 sixes and as many boundaries to score 69 from 35 balls whereas former Indian captain Virat Kohli slammed 4 sixes and 3 boundaries to make 63 from 48 balls. Towards the end, Hardik Pandya played a crucial innings of 25 not out from just 16 balls and also hit the winning runs. 

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