India won the T20I series 2-1, despite losing the 3rd match against Australia at SCG by 12 runs. It was a tough chase for the Men in Blue after the home team put up 186/5 in 20 overs batting first.
Matthew Wade (80) and Glenn Maxwell (54) took Australia to a nice total, while Washington Sundar picked 2/34 in his 4 overs. Steve Smith also chipped in with 24 runs.
Meanwhile, India’s chase got off to a bad start losing Rahul for 0 and Dhawan for 28. But Virat Kohli played a lone hand of 85 runs and only found some company in Hardik Pandya who made 20 runs with 2 sixes and 1 four. But the task was too much, as India managed just 174/7 in 20 overs, losing by 12 runs.
Hardik Pandya had a field day on return to international cricket after quite some time. First, he set the ODI series on fire, making two scores of 90 plus, and then did the same in T20Is as well, making a total of 78 runs at a strike rate of 156 with 5 sixes and 4 fours.
He made 16, 42*, and 20 in three innings and was named the Player of the Series in T20Is as well.
Talking at the post-match interview, Hardik said, “I'm quite pleased. I felt it was a team effort, not an individual one. We all decided after the 2nd ODI that we'll treat this as a four-match series now and we were hoping that we would win 3 out of 4 and that's what we got.”
He was also asked by Shane Warne if he was considered for the upcoming Test series.
To this, Hardik answered, “I think I should head back home and spend some quality time with my family. I haven't seen them for four months. Maybe in the future (for Test cricket), I don't know, maybe."
India will now play a day-night warmup match before the first pink-ball Test at Adelaide starts on December 17.
(ESPNCricinfo inputs)
