Australia vs India, 2nd T20I - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

The last time India played a T20I [November 2018] at this venue, they made a comeback to level the series and today, they've gone a notch better. Remember, this is India's longest winning streak in T20Is (won last 10 completed games) and Kohli summed it up brilliantly during the post-match presentation about the significance of players understanding their role and executing it at the highest level. Australia roped in a few Big Bash specialists for this game, but the execution went awry. Their bowlers have now leaked 59 runs [34 in the 1st and 25 today] off the last two overs in last two games. It's an area Justin Langer will keep a close eye on as we bring curtains on this game. One final crack at the white-ball beckons for both teams, same place same time on Tuesday. Do remember to tune in for that. Until next time, this is Raju Peethala bidding goodbye on behalf of MS Ramakrishnan, Akshay Manaay, Sagar Chawla and our scorer, Mukesh. Feet up!!

Virat Kohli, Indian skipper: We played really well as a team in T20 cricket. The fact that two of our established players are not playing and to win like this, makes me very proud of this team. Everyone has played 14 games recently (in the IPL) and they know their plans. Natarajan was outstanding and Shardul was good today. Hardik finishing off the game and Shikhar getting that fifty, it's a whole team effort. The reason for him (Hardik) to come into our team in 2016 was pure ability, he now realizes that this is the time to establish in that (finishing) role and play match-winning knocks for us. He plays with all his heart and he certainly got that competitive nature about him and also has the skill to execute that at the highest level. That's (next game) gonna be very exciting. In the tough moments, when so many people backing you, the next game is going to be exciting. It (scoop over fine leg) was a bit of funny moment, surprised myself there, I will send AB a text tonight and see what he thinks of it.

Matthew Wade, Australian skipper: It was good fun. Lot more fun till Hardik came out. May be a little bit short with the bat. Unfortunately we didn't execute well towards the end with the ball. When you get a start like that you want to push but I was disappointed with the way I got out and the timing of my wicket as well. Zampa has been outstanding for the last few years. We just couldn't execute it well in the end.

Hardik Pandya, Player of the Match: It's very simple. I like to look at the scoreboard and play so that I know which bowlers to target. I have been in these situations many times and I learnt from my mistakes in the past. My game is always around the confidence which I carry, it has that fine line where I back myself and not become overconfident. I always remember all those times when we chased big totals and it helps. In T20s you actually have more time than you think. If we need 70-80 odd in 30 balls, I don't look at the whole thing and I break it down to 12 balls and focus more on the process than the end result. They were batting really well and we wanted to be positive and special mention to Natarajan as well. I thought he should be the Man of the Match, because the bowlers struggled here and he had a really good game.

- This is also India's 10th successive win away from home in T20Is (3 in WI, 5 in NZ & 2 in Aus)

Most consecutive wins in T20Is
12 Afghanistan (2018-19)
11 Afghanistan (2016-17)
09 Pakistan (2018)
09 India (2020) *

Highest successful run chases in Australia (T20I)
198 Ind vs Aus SCG 2016
195 Ind vs Aus SCG 2020 *
174 SL vs Aus Geelong 2017
169 SL vs Aus MCG 2017

Hardik: I felt (we were) two good hits (away), quite happy. More than the six I wanted to finish the game. I don't like the game going till the last ball, I like to finish the game early. I was just going to whack the ball anyway (smiles). The whole five games, I've been trying to figure out which bat to bat with. I broke the bat with which I was playing for three years. This one looks alright.

22:45 local: Chasing 194, India needed a solid start at the top and the openers ensured they were (little over) par with Australia's powerplay score. Soon as Rahul got out, Australia strangled India with spin and never let them off the hook. Perhaps Australia missed a trick by being too predictable today, the lines of their pacers and the lengths of spinners were of prime example. Needing 37 off the last 3 overs, Wade took a gamble and went with Zampa. That over not only opened the doors for India, but also gave some confidence to the seemingly-struggling Shreyas Iyer who tonked a six and a four to gain some momentum for the final 2 overs. Hardik then took over the finishing duties and proved why he's rated so highly in this format of the game and he did all this despite not being able to time the ball clean like he usually does. This game had all the ebbs and flows, but India held their nerve to extend their winning streak to 9 in T20Is. The presentations aren't far away, stay tuned...

Daniel Sams to Hardik Pandya, SIX, India seal the T20I series with a game to go! Hardik gets another length ball on off-stump and he's launched it into the cow corner stands

Daniel Sams to Hardik Pandya, no run, makes room and misses out a bouncer on the stumps, Pandya was looking to go leg-side but didn't connect

Daniel Sams to Hardik Pandya, SIX, nailed it! The pace is not gonna trouble Hardik Pandya, gets a length ball in the slot and it's been marmalized into the crowd over wide long-on. The Indian dressing room is up on its feet....

Daniel Sams to Hardik Pandya, 2 runs, goes round the wicket and bowls it into the pitch denying room for Hardik, he somehow manages to drag the pull behind square and collects an easy couple of runs

Daniel Sams [3.0-0-27-1] is back into the attack

It's come down to 14 off 6 balls. India need a big hit off the first three balls and Australia will be hoping for a wicket or two. Sams to bowl the final over. Hardik not timing them that well.That kind of a day for him. Off we go...

Tye to Hardik Pandya, 1 run, slashes and slashes hard to backward point, a quick single and Hardik will keep strike

Tye to Hardik Pandya, FOUR, too predictable from Tye! Another one that's bowled well wide of off and it was full enough for Hardik to crunch it in the gap through extra cover

Tye to Hardik Pandya, FOUR, change of bats and change of luck for Hardik and India! Gets a low full toss wide of off-stump and that solid base of Hardik meant he sliced it comfortable off a thick outside edge past short third man

Change of bats for Hardik Pandya!

Tye to Hardik Pandya, no run, slower delivery dug into the pitch outside off, Hardik was a little early into his swing and once again fails to get bat on ball