India registered their third consecutive win on the Australian tour on Sunday (December 6) after starting off with two disappointing defeats in the ODI series, which they eventually lost 2-1. However, its been a different story in the T20Is as India took an unassailable 2-0 lead in series after winning today by six wickets in thrilling fashion.
Australia set a target of 195 for India, after Virat Kohli had chosen to bowl first. Matthew Wade, leading in place of injured Aaron Finch, top scored with 58 while Steve Smith also contributed 46 runs with others chipping in with cameos. Youngster T Natarajan with 2/20, again proved to be the best bowler for India.
India chased down the target in the final over with Shikhar Dhawan (50), Hardik Pandya (42*) and Virat Kohli (40) playing crucial knocks in the chase. Pandya smashed two sixes off Daniel Sams to win the game for India with two balls to spare.
Team India have been without their regular vice-captain Rohit Sharma during the white-ball leg of the tour due to a hamstring injury he sustained during IPL 2020 in UAE while leading Mumbai Indians. He returned to action ahead of playoffs and even scored a half-century in the final to win the tournament for the fifth time as captain, but he was not deemed fit enough to play international cricket by the medical experts.
Currently, he is rehabbing at National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, ahead of his fitness test on December 11. If he passes the test, he would be put on the flight to Australia at the earliest, so that he can play some part in the second half of the four-match Test series following the completion of his 14-day mandatory quarantine.
Rohit congratulated and praised the Indian team on Twitter for their composure during the T20I series, while giving a thumbs up to each member of the squad. Here is the tweet:
