Rohit Sharma’s unbeaten 20-ball 46 helped India seal a six-wicket victory over visitors Australia in the second T20 which was cut to eight overs a-side Friday.
India vs Australia, 2nd T20I as it happened: Rohit Sharma guides hosts to 6-wicket win
Home skipper Sharma won the toss and chose to field first in Nagpur and was helped by key cameos by Dinesh Karthik, unbeaten 2-ball 10, and Virat Kohli (11) as India hit 92-4 with four balls remaining in reply to Austalia’s 90-5.
Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa took 3-16 in his impressive two over spell when most of the other bowlers looked ineffective against in-form Sharma.
Pacer Pat Cummins was the only other wicket-taker for the visitors and finished with 1-23.
Matthew Wade’s unbeaten 20-ball 43 propelled Australia to a formidable 90-5 after a wet outfield in the rain-hit city delayed the start and shortened the game.
It was Wade’s second consecutive impressive innings in the series.
On Thursday, the Australian wicketkeeper hit 21-ball 45 in the first match to help the visitors chase down a mammoth 209-run victory target.
Australian captain Aaron Finch on Friday hit a 15-ball 31 before an impressive spell by left-arm spinner Axar Patel put a brake on Australia’s scoring.
Patel finished with 2-13 and was the most impressive bowler for India.
Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah who returned to the team on Friday took one wicket for 23 runs.
Watch: Jasprit Bumrah delivers a stunning yorker to dismiss Aaron Finch in Nagpur T20I
The three-match series, a warm-up for the T20 World Cup in Australia next month, concludes Sunday in Hyderabad.
Here’s a look at the reactions for India’s 6-wicket win against Australia in the third T20I:
Captain @ImRo45's reaction ☺️
— BCCI (@BCCI) September 23, 2022
Crowd's joy 👏@DineshKarthik's grin 👍
🎥 Relive the mood as #TeamIndia sealed a series-levelling win in Nagpur 🔽 #INDvAUS | @mastercardindia
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/LyNJTtl5L3 pic.twitter.com/bkiJmUCSeu
A two-over Super Over to decide a 16-over match is what this match truly needs tbh.
— Swaroop Swaminathan (@arseinho) September 23, 2022
Rohit Sharma in this form is such a sight to behold.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) September 23, 2022
Finisher finishes it off in style. #INDvAUS
— Jigar Mehta (@jigsactin) September 23, 2022
Finisher DK. ☑️
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) September 23, 2022
No better feeling 💯🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/BYi3owJ5h2
— Jasprit Bumrah (@Jaspritbumrah93) September 23, 2022
All square. See you in Hyderabad. 🇮🇳👊 pic.twitter.com/2DZM41SMEc
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) September 23, 2022
Some of Rohit Sharma's impactful T20I knocks this year:
— 12th Khiladi (@12th_khiladi) September 23, 2022
64(44) - SR of 145
31(20) - SR of 155
21(13) - SR of 161
24(14) - SR of 171
28(16) - SR of 175
72(41) - SR of 176
33(16) - SR of 206
40(19) - SR of 210
46*(20) - SR of 230*
Captain leading from the front!
Only fair that we are treated to a decider, between these two power houses!! Another great game, 🇮🇳 just too good with the bat. #INDvsAUS
— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) September 23, 2022
Rohit masterclass that chase, set it up in the first over.
— Prashanth S (@ps_it_is) September 23, 2022
Class. All class from Rohit. 46 in 20 and he's played some gorgeous shots today.
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) September 23, 2022
Save for Virat Kohli's early diving attempt of a catch of Cameron Green, none of the players from either sides looked to dive or slide on the surface in Nagpur. Tells a tale about the outfield... #INDvAUS
— S. Sudarshanan (@Sudarshanan7) September 23, 2022
2022 is the first calendar year where India registered 20 T20I wins.
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) September 23, 2022
The only other men's team with 20 or more T20I victories in a calendar year is Pakistan in 2021.#INDvPAK
That look you get from your dad, with the hands folded at the back for full effect, when you promised to be back by 8 pm and it’s past midnight now #IndvAus pic.twitter.com/lMsBQ9dJh1
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) September 23, 2022
ROHIT (ᴄᴀᴘᴛᴀɪɴ. ᴏᴘᴇɴᴇʀ. ғɪɴɪsʜᴇʀ. ʜɪᴛᴍᴀɴ) SHARMA 🇮🇳
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) September 23, 2022
Good comeback by Team india 🇮🇳! Skipper led by from the front @ImRo45 & @DineshKarthik did what he does best - finish !! Well done India 👏 . @BCCI #INDvsAUST20I
— Reema Malhotra (@ReemaMalhotra8) September 23, 2022
Any day is a good day when DK finish things off. #INDvsAUS
— Krithika (@krithika0808) September 23, 2022
I believe this match did a lot of good in terms of confidence for Rohit, Bumrah and Dinesh Karthik.
— Biraj Raha (Ved) (@TheDravid_Fan) September 23, 2022
Axar was great in the last match as well.#INDvsAUS
Highest strike-rate by Indians facing more than one ball in an innings of men's international cricket:
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) September 23, 2022
500 - Dinesh Karthik v AUS, today
400 - MS Dhoni v BAN, 2016
400 - Ravi Bishnoi v PAK, 2022#INDvAUS
India need 9 from 6 balls then Dinesh Karthik smashed 6 & 4 - won the game.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) September 23, 2022
The finisher here to stay. pic.twitter.com/IUv7YWPm5m
(With inputs from AFP)