NEW DELHI: India edged Australia by 6 wickets in a thrilling third and final T20I to clinch the series 2-1 on Sunday in Hyderabad. It was a comeback win for the hosts after they lost the opening T20I, where they failed to defend 208.
Chasing a tricky 187 in the series decider, India needed 11 runs off the final 6 balls and got across the finish line with a ball to spare.
As soon as Hardik Pandya got a streaky boundary off Daniel Sams to take India home, wild celebrations were sparked around the stadium in Hyderabad and in the Indian dressing room as well.
Skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were sitting on the dressing room stairs watching the end of the match. Virat still had his pads on. With the equation boiling down to 4 needed off the last 2 balls, it became a nail-biting finish. As soon as Hardik stretched to connect his bat with a wide Sams delivery which beat the keeper and first slip on its way to the boundary, Virat and Rohit cheered and hugged each other. Harshal Patel, also with his pads on, was seen sitting behind them.
Not surprisingly, videos of Virat and Rohit celebrating went viral on social media.
Watch:
In the chase, Virat played a fluent 48-ball 63 knock, which was instrumental in India clinching the match and series win. Virat's 104 run stand with Suryakumar Yadav, where the former India captain switched between aggressor and anchor and then back to aggressor, was what eventually played the biggest role in India winning the game. Suryakumar was adjudged the Man of the Match.
While returning to the pavilion, Virat was greeted with applause from the fans, a standing ovation by his teammates in the India dugout and a warm pat on the back by captain Rohit Sharma.
Watch:
Suryakumar Yadav was adjudged Player of the Match for scoring a breezy 36-ball 69 in the steep chase while Axar Patel was adjudged Player of the Series.
India next take on South Africa in a 3 match T20I series starting September 28. This will be the last three T20Is Team India will play before the T20 World Cup begins on October 16.
India are eyeing their second T20 World Cup title and the first since the inaugural edition in 2007.
