India vs Australia 1st T20: Kuldeep, Bumrah star, India win rain-curtailed encounter

Ranchi: India beat Australia by nine wickets in the rain-curtailed Ranchi Twenty20 here on Saturday and took a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20 series. After rain derailed proceedings at the JSCA International Stadium Complex, the revised playing conditions required India to chase down 48 runs in 6 overs, which India achieved with three balls to spare, after Indian bowlers reduced Australia to 118/8 in 18.4 overs.

Although India lost Rohit Sharma in the chase, Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan made sure India reached the required total without losing any more wickets in MS Dhoni's hometown.

While there was a possibility of rain before the match kicked off, rain made its presence felt after Australia, who were put in to bat by Kohli, batted for 18.4 overs before rain played spoilsport.

While Aaron Finch continued his fine run of form, Indian bowlers continued to chip in with wickets at regular intervals.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar struck first as he removed David Warner in the first over. Glenn Maxwell, who had a torrid time in the ODI series, once again had a night to forget as he was dismissed by Yuzvendra Chahal for the fourth time in the ongoing tour.

Finch played a few big shots in between however Kuldeep Yadav ended his stay in the middle after the Australian opener was done in by Kuldeep’s dip and spin. Moises Henriques was the next to get out as he dragged the chinaman’s delivery onto the stumps. Hardik Pandya, who did not have a good day in the middle till then, removed Travis Head to leave Australia in tatters.

While Tim Paine had two lucky escapes in space of two balls off Chahal, his luck ran out soon as Jasprit Bumrah disturbed the timber to send the Australian wicketkeeper packing in the 18^th over. Nathan Coulter-Nile got out in the same over.

Australia then lost Daniel Christian; courtesy Virat Kohli’s fielding brilliance as his direct-hit from long-on gave India their eighth wicket. Just when India looked good to wrap up Australian innings, rain ran havoc.

India innings:

India 49/1 from 5.3 overs:

That's a wrap! The rain-curtailed Ranchi T20 comes to an end as Virat Kohli's four over the off-side India's nine-wicket win. India take 1-0 lead in the three-match T20 series.

India 42/1 from 5 overs:

Adam Zampa has managed to keep Australia in the game; conceding just 6 in the fifth over. India need 6 off 6 now.

India 36/1 from 4 overs:

9 runs from the 4th and India are in a cruise control to win this match with at least an over to spare.

India 27/1 from 3 overs:

11 runs off the third over again. India are cruising as Dhawan  hits two fours and Kohli shows his delectable touch play in Andrew Tye's first over.

India 16/1 from 2 overs:

SIX, WICKET, Kohli in the middle and Dhawan's four! Quite an eventful over that was as India score 11 runs in the 2nd over.

India 5/0 from 1 overs:

Four and then 4 dot balls and a single. Australia won't mind this start as India need 43 runs from 5 overs.

Australian innings:

India have managed to scalp eight wickets; courtesy Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah; at the end of 18.4 overs before rain stopped play with the next inspection going to take place at 10.05 p.m. IST.

Australia 118/8 from 18.4 overs:

WICKET! Direct-hit from long-on and Dan Christian has to go. Virat Kohli is bang on target. Australia 8 down.

Australia 113/7 from 18 overs:

WICKETS! Jasprit Bumrah has shattered the stumps twice in an over. First, he drew curtains on Tim Paine's eventful stay in the middle and then sent Coulter-Nile packing. Australia 6 down. 150 looks a distant dream from here on.

Australia 111/5 from 17 overs:

Tim Paine is making the most of those lucky escapes as he targets Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who was bowling his 3rd over.

Australia 99/5 from 16 overs:

End of a fine spell. Kuldeep Yadav caps off his fine bowling day by conceding just four runs in his final over. Scalped two wickets; Finch and Henriques. Well bowled, lad!

Australia 95/5 from 15 overs:

Tim Paine is one lucky man. He misses the ball, Dhoni misses the stumping. He mishits one and Bhuvi misfields. All of this in space of 2 balls. Kohli is not too pleased after that Bhuvi drop in the deep.

Australia 93/5 from 14 overs:

WICKET! Hardik Pandya joins the party. Travis Head chops an incutter onto the stumps. David Warner looks stunner. Australia crumbling.

Australia 88/4 from 13 overs:

WICKET! 2nd for Kuldeep. Moises Henriques has dragged one onto the stumps after dancing down the track.

Australia 86/3 from 12 overs:

Hardik Pandya is back into the attack and Henriques has made sure that Australia get one past the boundary rope. 6 runs from Pandya's 3rd over.

Australia 80/3 from 11 overs:

Chahal concedes three in his third over. Australia on the backfoot after Finch's wicket.

Australia 77/3 from 10 overs:

WICKET! Big wicket for Kuldeep Yadav, big wicket for India. Aaron Finch departs. Kuldeep has disturbed the Finch show as he disturbs the timber. The ball dips and sneaks through Finch's defence. Gone. Australia 3 down.

Australia 72/2 from 9 overs:

Aaron Finch has continued his brilliant run of form as he continues to trouble India. While Chahal had a wicket in his first over, that has not really helped him in the second over as Finch has hit him for a six.

Australia 62/2 from 8 overs:

Just 5 runs from Kuldeep Yadav's first over as Finch and Travis Head take it easy.

Australia 57/2 from 7 overs:

WICKET! Make it 4-0. Yuzvendra Chahal has Glenn Maxwell once again. Short ball or hit-me-anywhere ball and Maxwell has hammered it straight into the hands of Bumrah at mid-wicket. Thrice in ODIs and now in Twenty20, Chahal has Maxwell's number.

Australia 49/1 from 6 overs:

Finch, Maxwell hit a four each as Australia score 13 runs in the final over of powerplay. Hardik Pandya is struggling to get his act right tonight.

Australia 36/1 from 5 overs:

Finch continues to look to score freely, Maxwell continues to struggle as Bumrah has change of ends. Australia have not really set the stage on fire but they have made sure to score at good pace.

Australia 28/1 from 4 overs:

Bhuvneshwar Kumar is bowling from the other end now. But like always, he is on target. Just three runs from his second over as Glenn Maxwell plays and misses and survives.

Australia 25/1 from 3 overs:

Hardik Pandya gets the ball and Aaron Finch is having a ball. Two fours in an over for him as he keeps the Australian scorecard ticking. 10 runs off Pandya's first over.

Australia 15/1 from 2 overs:

Aaron Finch off the mark, Glenn Maxwell off the mark as the two score seven runs from Jasprit Bumrah’s first over.

Australia 8/1 from 1 over:

WICKET! Early breakthrough! Chopped on! David Warner departs. Bhuvneshwar Kumar removes his IPL skipper after being hit for 2 fours. Fine start for India.

Virat Kohli has won the toss and India have elected to bowl in the first match of the three-match Twenty20 series here on Saturday. 

Shikhar Dhawan, who could not feature in the ODI series, makes a comeback to the playing XI while Kuldeep Yadav replaces Axar Patel in the Indian team.

For Australia, Jason Behrendorff will be making his debut and will partner fellow pacers Andrew Tye and Nathan Coulter-Nile.

Kohli-led India, which won the five-match ODI series 4-1, will aim to continue their dominance over the Australian side as the three-match Twenty20 series kicks off in MS Dhoni’s hometown Ranchi here on Saturday.

While India, who are currently ranked fifth in ICC World T20 rankings, are favourites to win the three-match series starting at the JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi, Australia are dealt with a big blow as Steve Smith has returned to homeland after sustaining an injury.

India have recalled veteran left-arm pacer Ashish Nehra as he joins Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah in the pace-bowling department. Meanwhile, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel will take care of spin-bowling department. However, only two spinners are likely to find a place in the playing XI.

India’s batting is bolstered by Shikhar Dhawan’s comeback and it is certain that he will open the innings alongside man-in-form Rohit Sharma. Skipper Kohli, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni and Hardik Pandya are expected to be a part of the middle order. If that happens, Dinesh Karthik and KL Rahul will have to warm the benches.

Coming to Australia, a lot will depend on in-form opening duo of David Warner, who will be captaining the side in Smith’s absence, and Aaron Finch. While the team has the likes of Glenn Maxwell, Tim Paine, Dan Christian, Travis Head and Moises Henriques, a lot will depend on how Warner and Finch go about their business.

While Australia won’t have the services of Pat Cummins, with all-rounders Henriques and Christian in the ranks and frontline pacers Kane Richardson, Nathan Coulter-Nile and Jason Behrendorff in the squad, Australia have variety in their arsenal. Adam Zampa, meanwhile, is the only specialist spinner in their side.  

Squads:

India: Virat Kohli (Captain), Rohit Sharma (vice-captain), Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, MS Dhoni (wicketkeeper), Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ashish Nehra, Axar Patel.

Australia: David Warner (Captain), Aaron Finch, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Dan Christian, Tim Paine (wicketkeeper), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Adam Zampa, Kane Richardson, Jason Behrendorff, Andrew Tye.

Match-timing:

The match is scheduled to start at 7 P.M. IST.