India defeats Australia by 44 runs to take a 2-0 lead in the series

At the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, India, India defeated Australia by 44 runs to take a 2-0 lead in their five-match Twenty20 series. Australia decided to field after winning the toss, and India amassed their fifth-highest T20 total of 235-4. Australia’s chase total was merely 191-9.

After being asked to bat first, India amassed 235 runs for the loss of four wickets in 20 overs. When India was put to bat against Australia, Ruturaj Gaikwad (58), Yashasvi Jaiswal (53), Ishan Khan (52) and Rinku Singh (31 not out of nine balls) contributed to their highest-ever T20 international score. It was comfortably the highest score at Greenfield International Stadium, surpassing their previous mark of 8-209, which they had scored three days earlier in Visakhapatnam.

Early on, Jaiswal took the lead and dominated India’s 1-77 Powerplay, their greatest total in the Twenty20 Internationals against Australia. The twenty-one-year-old opener reached his half-century within the fourth over, 4-4-4-6-6, welcoming Sean Abbott to the bowling crease.

They then held the Matthew Wade-led team to 191 runs. Tilak Varma made a fantastic catch to eliminate Josh Inglis (2), then Jaiswal snagged two excellent catches to dismiss Maxwell (12) and Steve Smith (19) to leave Australia reeling at 4-58 in the eighth over. Stoinis and David gave Australia some hope, but the end of their 81-run fifth-wicket partnership prompted a 5-16 collapse, which Wade mitigated by swinging hard to the finish.

Praisdh Kishan and Ravi Bishnoi each took three wickets for India. India has seized a 2-0 lead in the five-match T20I series and tied Pakistan’s global record with their victory against Australia in the second T20I. With the victory against Australia in the second Twenty20 International, India has now won 135 of the 211 Twenty20 International matches that have been played. This equals Pakistan’s record for the most matches won in Twenty20 Internationals, which stands at 135 out of 211.

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Player Of The Match: “It was really special for me, enjoyed today. I was trying to play all my shots, be fearless, take bowlers on. I was fully sure with my decisions. I have been told by Surya and VVS bhai to express myself. I always think of how I can improve myself around experienced players and nothing else. Still learning. It was my mistake. I went to him and said sorry. Stoinis was between me, I was sure but then not sure. I made the wrong call. I accepted that it was a mistake and it happens. Rutu bhai was humble and said in the gym that the next time we are running, we will take secure singles. I really worked on my fitness and play shots. I feel the mental stuff is more important in this level. Try to get better each and every day.”

Suryakumar Yadav, Indian captain: “The boys aren’t putting too much pressure on me, they’re taking responsibility. I told them before the toss to be prepared to bat first. There was a lot of dew after three overs, told the boys to back themselves. When I saw Rinku in the last game, the composure was brilliant. Today’s effort too reminds us of everyone who’s done this for India.”

Andre Borovec, Australia coach: “If you look at the bowling, there was a fine line with execution. We weren’t able to make inroads in the first six overs. In these conditions, the plans and intent is there and you don’t have to miss by an awful lot. We’re making the right decisions but aren’t executing in the right moments.”

India 235/4; 20 overs [Ruturaj Gaikwad 58, Yashasvi Jaiswal 53, Ishan Kishan 52; Nathan Ellis 3/45] beat Australia 191/9; 20 overs [Marcus Stoinis 45, Tim David 37; Ravi Bishnoi 3/32, Prasidh Krishna 3/41] by 44 runs.