In what was an exhilarating start to the five-match T20I series, Suryakumar Yadav, donning the captain’s hat, led India to a nail-biting win against a spirited Australian side captained by Matthew Wade at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Thursday. The Men in Blue scaled new heights, pulling off their highest ever T20I chase, reaching a mammoth target of 209 with just two wickets in reserve.
The home crowd bore witness to an edge-of-the-seat thriller, where India, riding on the back of scintillating performances from Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan, kept the scoreboard ticking in pursuit of a daunting score. However, it was Rinku Singh’s theatrics in the final over that became the talking point as he smacked a six off the last legal delivery of the match – a shot that paradoxically did not count in the official scorebooks.
With seven runs needed in the final over, Singh faced the mounting pressure head-on. Despite a series of dismissals, including a caught and bowled and multiple run-outs, the left-hander carved out a path to victory with India requiring a solitary run from the final ball. Sean Abbott, in his bid to defend it, inadvertently bowled a no-ball which Singh dispatched into the long-on stands for what would have been a spectacular match-winning six, sending the Indian contingent into rapturous celebrations.
However, courtesy of Abbott’s overstepping, the six was rendered redundant. With the no-ball instantly providing the required run for India’s triumph, the rules dictate that any scoring off the consequent free hit is annulled. Hence, the runs that would have come from Rinku’s bat, be it through a boundary, leg-byes, or byes, were not to be counted. Had the situation demanded more than a run, the six would have been accounted for in the final scoreline.
The win painted the perfect start to the series for India and showcased Suryakumar Yadav’s leadership finesse right off the bat, with him bagging the Player of the Match accolade. His whirlwind 80 runs off a mere 42 balls were instrumental in setting the pace for India’s chase. Complementing his efforts was Ishan Kishan, who contributed a fiery 58 off 39 deliveries, helping India stay on track in what eventually culminated in a record-breaking chase.
Earlier in the day, Australia had looked poised to set a challenging score as wicketkeeper-batsman Josh Inglis blasted an awe-inspiring 110 from just 50 balls, guiding his team to a formidable total of 208. The visitors seemed to have tilted the scales in their favor, but the Indian batsmen, with a never-say-die attitude, had other plans.
An elated Suryakumar praised the team’s tenacity post-match. “Very happy with the way the boys played. Was very happy with their energy – we were put under pressure, but the way everyone showed up was amazing,” he remarked. The newly minted captain expressed the profound pride he experienced in leading his nation, acknowledging the significance of this moment in his career.
The gripping triumph not only set the tone for a fiercely competitive series but also highlighted the unpredictable and thrilling nature of T20 cricket. India, with their spirits buoyed by this victory, now ventures into the rest of the series with momentum on their side, while Australia will certainly be looking to settle the score in the upcoming encounters. As the series unfolds, the stage is set for more enthralling performances and cricketing drama that promises to keep fans on the edge of their seats.