INDIA VS AUSTRALIA T20 MATCH BEGINS!!!
PITCH REPORT– Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel is at the center with his pitch assessment. He observes cool and slightly overcast conditions, which could make the early overs challenging. There’s a healthy grass cover on the surface, offering seamers some movement and early grip. As the ball ages, however, batters should find the bounce and pace favorable, with the ball coming nicely onto the bat. Patel also notes that dew might influence the game later in the evening, making defense tougher. Overall, he calls it a good batting track where early accuracy from pacers could prove crucial.
TOSS – It’s time for the toss here in Australia’s capital, and you can almost hear Ravi Shastri’s voice echoing that announcement. The evening is chilly as both captains walk out to the middle, sweaters over their jerseys to beat the cold. The coin goes Australia’s way, and Mitchell Marsh chooses to bowl first.
Australia’s skipper Mitchell Marsh opted to bowl first, confident that the surface looks excellent and should play well as it often does here. He noted that his side has been playing bold, aggressive cricket and expects India to do the same, calling them the world’s number one team. Marsh predicted an exciting contest between two powerhouse sides with the World Cup fast approaching. Flashing a grin, he added that they’re fielding eleven players a mix of batters, bowlers, and all-rounders keeping the mood light ahead of the big clash.
India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav said they planned to bat first, so the toss went their way. He described the pitch as good but expected it to slow down later in the match. Yadav noted that their analyst pointed out only a few games had been played at this venue. He added that the players are clear about their roles and what needs to be done. The players missing out are Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Jitesh Sharma, and Nitish Kumar Reddy.
Australia (Playing XI) – Mitchell Marsh (C), Travis Head, Josh Inglis (WK), Tim David, Mitchell Owen, Marcus Stoinis, Josh Philippe, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Matthew Kuhnemann, and Josh Hazlewood.
India (Playing XI) – Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Sanju Samson (WK), Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Jasprit Bumrah.
UPDATE: Nitish Kumar Reddy has been ruled out of the first three T20Is due to a left quadriceps strain sustained during the ODI series. He is still undergoing recovery.
The stage is set in Canberra, and the buzz around the ground says it all! The Australian players stride out, taking up their fielding positions with purpose. Out come India’s openers now.. Abhishek Sharma at the top, joined by vice-captain Shubman Gill, ready to get things rolling. Josh Hazlewood has the new ball in hand, a slip waiting in anticipation. All eyes on the first delivery… we’re underway!
1ST OVER– 8/0
End of the first over- a lively start! 8 runs on the board without losing a wicket. 8/0 after 1.
2ND OVER– 17/0
End of the 2nd over- 9 runs from it! score move to 17 without loss.
3RD OVER-26/0
Over number 3, and it’s been a steady start here! Nine runs come off it, and HH move to 26 without losing a wicket.
3.5: Nathan Ellis to Abhishek Sharma… OUT! Got him! Ellis gets the breakthrough! That slower delivery works its magic once again. Clever change of pace from the Aussie quick pitches it up around off, taking all the speed off. Sharma goes for the big loft down the ground but mistimes it completely. Off the toe end and flat towards mid-off! Tim David’s there, a bit wobbly as he takes it, but he holds on safely. End of a brisk knock Abhishek Sharma gone for 19 off 14. India lose their first wicket at 35 for 1.
Here comes the skipper, Suryakumar Yadav, striding in at number three with purpose written all over his face!
4TH OVER- 36/1
Over number 4 – a lively one from HH, adding 10 runs to the tally. The scoreboard now reads 36 for the loss of 1 wicket.
5TH OVER- 43/1
Over number 5 – 7 runs added to the total. HH move to 43 for 1 after 5 overs.
The rain gods have decided to join the action! The drizzle’s turned into a steady shower, and the umpires aren’t taking any chances- out come the covers as play comes to a halt. It’s a rain interruption for now!
UPDATE – The drizzle’s finally done and dusted! The covers are being peeled away, and that’s the sight every fan’s been waiting for. Suryakumar Yadav is already strapping on his helmet in the dugout, itching to get out there. Both umpires stroll in for a quick look- umbrellas folded, spirits high. The outfield’s looking decent, though the main hessian still guards the pitch like a stubborn defender. After a friendly chat with the ground staff near the strip, the umpires head back toward the pavilion, perhaps to update the skippers on how things stand. A restart might not be far away!
Update – The wait is over! We’ve got the official word.. play will get underway at 3 PM IST (11:30 AM GMT). The match is now trimmed to 18 overs a side, and the Powerplay will span 5.2 overs. Get ready for some fast-paced action!
The stage is set once again! The umpires stride out, followed by the players taking their positions out in the middle.
6TH OVER- 53/1
End of the 6th over- 10 runs from it! score move to 53 for 1.
7TH OVER– 63/1
Over number 7 – 10 runs off it. HH moves to 63 for 1.
8TH OVER- 70/1
8th over: Seven runs come off it- HH moves to 70 for 1 after eight overs.
9TH OVER- 82/1
End of the 9th over- 12 runs come off it. HH moves to 82 for 1 on the board.
Well, well, the skies just won’t stay quiet in Canberra! The rain’s back, and the umpires have called the players off once more. Suryakumar Yadav tucks his bat under his jersey, trudging off with a wry smile. The drizzle’s turning into a proper downpour now frustrating stuff for the Indians who were charging full throttle after the restart. The Aussies, though, won’t be complaining one bit! When we’re back, expect a shorter, sharper shootout.
Update from the ground – the rain is still coming down, though not as heavily as before. The drizzle has eased, and that’s a positive sign for everyone waiting. The outfield, however, has soaked up quite a bit of water, so it’ll take some time before play can resume. Fingers crossed, folks! Stay with us for more updates as we wait for the covers to come off.
UPDATE – Well, forget that last update! The rain’s back and coming down hard now. The outfield’s taking a real beating, and this delay could drag on for quite a while. We’ve got about an hour and a half left to wrap things up, but from the looks of it, India’s innings might be over. When play resumes, it could be straight into Australia’s chase. Still no official word, but that seems the most likely scenario at the moment.
Batter R B 4s 6s S/R Dismissal Abhishek Sharma 19 14 4 0 135.71 c Tim David b Nathan Ellis Shubman Gill 37 20 4 1 185.00 not out Suryakumar Yadav (C) 39 24 3 2 162.50 not out Extras 2 (W2) Total 97/1 in 9.4 overs
And that’s it from Canberra tonight- no more play possible as the heavens have had their say! The match has officially been called off. The rain just wouldn’t relent, and despite the ground staff’s heroic efforts, the downpour wins this one. Players exchange handshakes and a few wry smiles, masking the disappointment. The crowd waited through the drizzle and false starts, hoping for some action, but nature had other plans. A real pity, because we were all geared up for what promised to be a thrilling contest!
So, that’s the story from Canberra! What began as a bright and fiery contest ended in damp disappointment as rain had the final say. The crowd came ready for fireworks, but the weather decided otherwise. Next stop – Melbourne, where the second T20I awaits on Friday, 31st October. The action kicks off at 1.45 pm IST (8.15 am GMT). Both sides will be hoping for clear skies and a full game, though the forecast threatens another tease of drizzle. India will look to keep their batting rhythm flowing, while Australia aim to tighten things up with the ball. Bigger stage, louder crowd, and fingers crossed – friendlier weather. Don’t forget to join us an hour early for all the build-up, chats, and inside buzz. Till then, keep smiling and stay tuned. Ciao for now!
Earlier in the evening, Mitchell Marsh won the toss and opted to chase. And what a start we saw from the Indian openers! Abhishek Sharma wasted no time, creaming a few glorious boundaries before Nathan Ellis struck to remove him. Then came the drizzle. Covers on, players waiting, fans sighing. After the break, the game was reduced to 18 overs a side. But India didn’t lose momentum. Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill lit up the damp conditions with some exquisite strokeplay. SKY’s wristy brilliance met Gill’s silky timing as India raced to 97 for 1 in 9.4 overs. Hazlewood kept things tight, Ellis had the lone wicket, but the story of the day was the rain that refused to let go. Just over nine overs of play, two long delays and that, folks, was all she wrote from Canberra.
