A record-breaking day unfolded at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, transforming the venue into an assault course for bowlers as India and Australia clashed in a high-stakes T20 International on November 28. The pitch offered little consolation for the bowlers, who were rendered practically defenseless against a barrage of runs; a mammoth total of 447 runs were etched into the scoreboard over the course of both innings. Seamers, in particular, found themselves at the mercy of the batting onslaught, with Indian pacer Prasidh Krishna etching a dubious record into the T20I history books.
Despite the vast total of 222 runs posted by the Indian team, even this mountain of runs proved insufficient in deterring the Australians’ pursuit. The resilience of the Australian batting, spearheaded by Matthew Wade, Travis Head, and Glenn Maxwell, undid the efforts of the Indian attack, with both teams seeming to wield willows of extraordinary caliber on that fateful day.
Jason Behrendorff’s spell of 1/12 stood out as a beacon of economy amidst the free-flowing current of runs. No other bowler from either side could manage an economy rate below 8, while five of them saw their figures balloon beyond an economy of 11.
Early in the piece, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Suryakumar Yadav laid down the marker for India, tearing through the Australian bowlers with ferocity. However, the tide turned swiftly as Maxwell and company laid into the Indian frontline pacers. Prasidh Krishna, in particular, bore the brunt of their aggression, conceding an eye-watering 68 runs from his four-over allotment.
Krishna, in a last-ditch attempt, delivered a commendable six-run 18th over. Yet, with 21 runs required off the final six balls, the situation became untenable. Maxwell and Wade seized upon him viciously, with Maxwell notching up a sensational century. The carnage saw Krishna’s spell conclude as the costliest ever by an Indian bowler in T20 internationals, surpassing Yuzvendra Chahal’s 64-run spell without a wicket against South Africa five years prior.
The series, nonetheless, still sits in India’s favor, with a 2-1 lead over the Australians, who will proceed without their constellation of World Cup stars, save for Travis Head. India, on their part, will see Shreyas Iyer make his comeback in the ensuing matches at Raipur and Bengaluru.
This match at Guwahati will be remembered as a testament to the evolving landscape of T20 cricket, where not a blade of grass nor a breath of air seemed to favor those with the ball in hand. For Krishna, it was an outing that would etch his name in the record books, albeit for reasons he might wish to forget. The spectacle of T20 cricket once again proved that even the most imposing totals are no longer safe, as the blade continues to hold sway over the leather in this enthralling, albeit brutal, shortest format of the game.
Australia’s decision to bowl first came with an enormous silver lining as the subcontinental pitch, and smaller boundaries catered to a veritable run-fest. The day, belonging to the batsmen, will also serve as a stark reminder to the bowlers that in this compact form of the game, the odds can turn steeply against them, transforming even the most reliable strike bowlers into figures of sympathy. In the wake of this gripping contest, the series moves on, with both sides looking to recalibrate their strategies and bounce back. The bowlers, especially, will be seeking redemption and perhaps a more accommodating pitch as they aim to restore the balance between bat and ball.