The first game of the five-match T20I series between India and Australia on Thursday ended in India’s favor. The game took place at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, which turned out to be a high-scoring contest with over 400 runs scored in 40 overs.
But in the end, the young Indian team led by Suryakumar Yadav was too good to handle for the Australians. Rinku Singh, India’s new designated finisher, finished off the game with a big hit. India won the toss and decided to bowl first.
But that decision totally backfired on them as Josh Inglis went bersek and registered Australia’s joint-fastest ton off 47 balls. He made 110 off 50 balls, with 11 fours and 8 sixes. Steve Smith also looked good for his 41-ball 52. Australia posted a massive total of 208/3 in 20 overs.
It looked impossible when India lost both openers for just 22 runs in 2.3 overs. But a match-winning partnership between SKY and Ishan Kishan took the game away from Australia. In the end, Rinku Singh stayed calm to seal the deal for India.
Rinku hit the six off the last ball when India needed a six, but it was a no-ball. Hence, that six didn’t count, and he remained unbeaten on 22 off 14, with four boundaries. After the win, the left-hander revealed the mantra he got from probably the best finisher, MS Dhoni, about finishing skills.
In a video posted on the X handle of the BCCI, Rinku said when India needed 40 off the last four overs, he was planning to take the game to the last over. He added, “I talked to Mahi bhai (MS Dhoni) and asked him what he thinks in the last over; he said that if you stay calm, it will be good for you, so I try to do that.”
He also added that it was a perfect situation when he came out to bat and was confident enough to do this for the team. Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav made 80 off 42 balls, with nine fours and four sixes, and won the Man of the Match award. Ishan also played brilliantly for his 39-ball 58. Both teams will now face each other on Sunday in Thiruvananthapuram.
