1-1
An allround performance helped India level the series. © Getty
Kohli couldn't fetch a run off the first two balls of the final over when India needed just five but he smashes boundaries off the next two to finish proceedings. India tie the series 1-1. Top performance from India barring the collapse in the middle overs.
50 for Kohli
A 34-ball 50, his first in T20Is this year and it has come under pressure when his team badly needed it. Top knock despite not being at his best especially at the start. Once he gets to his landmark, Karthik pulls Tye for a massive six. That shot has almost killed the chase. India need 16 from 12.
Kohli's class
Just when Australia seemed to be edging ahead, Kohli decided to show his class and quality as he carved Tye through backward point and then lofted him down the ground for a sumptuous six.
40 needed off 24 balls.
Match in balance
Zampa and Maxwell offered Australia some control. The duo of Rahul and Kohli mainly looked to deal in singles and twos. Rahul, though, attempted to break the shackles but could only mistime a loft to Coulter-Nile in the deep. Tye then struck via the first ball of his spell.
Twin strikes have hurt India here. But the required run rate of just over 8 is still under the control.
Australia back in it
Now it is is Zampa's turn to pick up a scalp. For the entire over, Rohit was troubled by Zampa. The wily legspinner employed the slider and the opener could only eke out an inside edge onto the stumps. Zampa was thrilled to bits. Oh, boy, Australia needed a few wickets and they have prised out the openers.
Crucial breakthrough
Ah, Australia desperately needed a wicket and Starc has provided the breakthrough. One of those trademark deliveries from Starc - full and straight - and hit Dhawan flush on the boot.
Initially, the umpire perhaps thought it was sliding down leg and didn't adjudge it out. Starc, though, forced Finch to place his belief in the review. Replays suggested it would take out the leg stump. The ball perhaps straightened a touch after pitching and also it was a very full ball and less time to travel.
Australia under the pump
On a slow pitch, Stoinis this time, tested middle of the pitch and was duly punished a couple of times into the stands by Dhawan and Rohit. The duo is on a rampage and India are scoring at almost 12 runs per over!
22 runs in a single over from Stoinis.
On the charge
Coulter-Nile continued to struggle with his line. He bowled one down leg and Rohit pulled him with customary ease over deep backward square for a six. Dhawan then almost slog swept the pacer over midwicket. Now that is arrogance. India are on the charge.
Incisive bowling, boundaries...
Starc troubled both Rohit and Dhawan with a combination of full deliveries (a hint of swing) and the occasional bumper. Coulter-Nile, however, struggled with his line and was smashed for a couple of boundaries by the opening duo.
Fighting total
In the last few overs, Stoinis and Coulter-Nile harried between the wickets to covert singles into twos. Coulter-Nile even put in a couple of dives to pinch extra runs. The 16-ball 33-run stand between the pair has certainly lifted Australia to some extent. A score of 164 is a fighting total on a slowish pitch.
Earlier, Krunal showed his wares by attacking the stumps and varying his pace to snare a four-wicket haul. Excellent effort from the left-arm spinner.
Another one down
Australia just can't seem to gain any momentum. They have now lost Lynn via a run out. The Queenslander was already half way down the track, trying to pinch a single. Unfortunately there wasn't a single and Lynn was sent back by Stoinis. Bumrah did well to pick up the ball quickly and effected a rocket throw at the bowler's end.
Krunal again!
Carey was playing with a sense of purpose against spinners. He manufactured a hint of room to loft one over extra cover. He also employed the reverse sweep against Krunal. However, Krunal can't seem to do anything wrong today. Carey soon tried the orthodox slog sweep versus the left arm spinner but could only crack it to the fielder stationed a midwicket.
Each time, Australia have got some impetus, they have lost a wicket or two.
Dream day
Oh, it is getting from bad to worse for Australia as Maxwell too trudges back to the pavilion. On the other hand, Krunal is having a dream day. He smartly pulled his length and followed Maxwell. The swashbuckling batsman couldn't get enough power behind the shot and smacked it straight to long on.
Australia are in some trouble now.
Collapse
Phew! Drama. Action. Initially, Maxwell was adjudged LBW off Kuldeep's chinaman. However, Maxwell took the review and the Hawkeye suggested the angle was taking down leg.
Short attempted a sweep off Krunal and was struck in front. This time, the left-handed batsman placed his belief in the review but to no avail. Krunal's ability to target the stumps again paid him rich dividends as via the very next McDermott too aimed to sweep and was plumb in front of the stumps.
The spin duo given that spark for the Indian set-up.
Crucial incision
India's trump card, Kuldeep, has again broken through. Finch didn't seem like he was picking the chinaman bowler as he tried a sweep but could only eke out a top edge to short fine where Krunal took it safely,
India needed that wicket as they were looking rather flat on the field.
Fluffed chance...
Now a fluffed chance. Rohit Sharma has dropped a skier. Mistimed loft from Finch and it was in the air for a long time. Rohit judged the catch quite well and charged in from mid on. However, he couldn't grab it. Good bowling from Krunal but couldn't get the reward for it.
There have been a couple of misfields too.
On the accelerator pedal
Finch then upped the ante by pulling and punching Khaleel. With the midwicket fielder in place, Khaleel erred by bowling too short and Finch duly pulled it through square leg. The opening duo also stitched a fifty-run stand.
There is tremendous support for the Indian team at the SCG.
Solid foundation
On a slightly slowish surface, Finch and Short picked the length early by cracking the pull and loft off Khaleel and Bhuvneshwar respectively. Bhuvneshwar has already started to employ the knuckle ball.
Meanwhile, Kohli seems to be charged up for this game. He effected a direct hit with Finch at the striker's end just about making his ground. He also made a good stop at covers.
Toss and teams:
Australia won a crucial toss and elected to bat. Kohli, the opposing captain, noted India wanted to chase. So both teams would be happy with the outcome of the toss.
India remained unchanged while Starc came in for Behrendorff for the hosts. The track is slightly on the drier side and Indian spinners could come into play.
India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Lokesh Rahul, Virat Kohli(c), Rishabh Pant(w), Dinesh Karthik, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, K Khaleel Ahmed, Jasprit Bumrah
Australia (Playing XI): D Arcy Short, Aaron Finch(c), Chris Lynn, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Ben McDermott, Alex Carey(w), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Mitchell Starc, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa
Kohli: We would have bowled first as well anyway. The last game we played here, we chased down a big score. Even at the MCG, we were able to restrict them to a decent score.Just like it to continue and force them put a score that they want to defend. It's always lovely to play in Sydney, we get a lot of support here. Always a full house and 85% Indian fans here. Our intensity was right up there in the last game and we're really looking forward to this one. We're unchanged.
Finch: We will have a bat first. Looks a pretty good wicket, a bit dry and if we can put runs on the board, we are backing ourselves to defend anything. One change, Starc comes in for Behrendorff. It's exciting to have Mitchy back in the side, it's been two years since he's played a game and is raring to go.
SCG baked in sunshine
Build Up:
Two games played. And both games affected by rain. Due to inclement weather, the three-match T20I rubber between Australia and India has turned out to be a a bit of an anti climax so far.
There was some drama and action in the first game in Brisbane, where Marcus Stoinis held his nerve in the final over to pilot the hosts to a nail-biting four-run victory via the DLS Method.
In the second match at the iconic MCG stadium, India made a strong comeback. Khaleel and Bumrah shared two spoils each while the spinners bowled with discipline and skill to restrict Australia to 132 for 7 (19 overs). However, rain had the final say and the game was called off.
Can the visitors build on their fine display at the MCG? It has to be observed that India haven't lost a T20I rubber over nine consecutive series. Meanwhile, the Aaron Finch-led side would be looking to turn their fortunes around. A series win could give the beleaguered Australian set-up the much-needed fillip.
The home side also would be boosted by the return of their spearhead Starc. The left-arm pacer, who hasn't played a T20I since 2016, will replace the injured Stanlake.
On a positive note, the weather for the highly anticipated game looks promising.
Here's something on the young left-arm pacer form Rajasthan, Khaleel Ahmed.